Grant County Authorities release information on a number of incidents including report of gun shots and a vehicle fire

Reported Gun Shots 

On November 4, 2025 at 2:43 PM gun shots were reported in the area of Sand Lake Lane and Hwy 133 in Cassville Township.  

After hearing the gun shots, an employee of BNSF Railroad was seen running to wards another BNSF employee. The railroad worker also reported the gun shots and seeing a suspicious truck in the woods.  

It was also reported that a subject was seen running through the woods in the area of the gun shots. When the Sheriff's Deputy arrived on scene, he located a male in the area who was identified as Josey Faulkner, 47, of Patch Grove. Faulkner's truck was located on property owned by BARD Materials, and two long guns were observed in the truck.  

It was determined Faulkner did not have permission to be on BARD's property. A Wisconsin DNR warden responded to the scene. Faulkner's truck was towed from the scene by B&M towing of Bloomington.  

Faulkner will be cited for trespassing, and the matter was referred to the Department of Natural Resourced for additional investigation into illegal hunting.  

For the safety of railroad employees, the BNSF railroad police shut down the railroad in that area for approximately 2.5 hours while the investigation was ongoing.  

Two-Vehicle Crash w/ Injuries 

On November 5, 2025, at approximately 7:25 a.m., the Grant County Sheriff's Office was notified of a two-vehicle crash with injuries on CTH Z, at the intersection of Louisburg Rd, in Jamestown Township.  

Along with a deputy from the Grant County Sheriff's Office, emergency responders from the Hazel Green Rescue Squad, and Jamestown Fire Department were dispatched to the scene.  

When the officer arrived on scene, he learned Jacob Kieler was traveling north on County Highway Z, in his 2019 Ford F150, when he approached the intersection of Louisburg Rd. Riley Lewerke-Hosch, 17, of Hazel Green, was stopped at a stop sign on Louisburg Rd., in her 2021 Jeep Cherokee, waiting for a school bus in front of her to turn south onto County Highway Z.  

The school bus made the turn south and Lewerke-Hosch stopped at the stop sign and checked for oncoming traffic. The bus obstructed her view and she did not see, Kieler's Ford F150 traveling northbound. As Lewerke-Hosch pulled away from the stop sign and attempted to cross the intersection to continue east on Louisburg Rd., she collided with Kieler's truck at the intersection.  

Both drivers were injured and treated by the Hazel Green Rescue Squad and transported to Mercy Hospital and Southwest Health Center for treatment of their injuries. Both drivers were wearing safety belts. Both vehicles were heavily damaged and had to be towed from the scene. 

Lewerke-Hosch was cited for failure to yield from right of way from a stop sign.  

The Grant County Sheriff's Office was assisted at the scene by the Hazel Green Rescue Squad, Jamestown Fire Department, Guys Towing, and Donnie's Towing.

One vehicle rollover accident in Cassville 

On November 08, 2025, at 8:59 p.m., the Grant County Communication Center received a crash notification alert on Highway 133, near Dietrich Heights Lane, in the Town of Cassville. Along with Sheriff's deputies, emergency responders from Cassville Fire and Cassville EMS responded to the scene.  

When deputies arrived on scene, they located a vehicle that was resting on its roof in the ditch. It was discovered that Gage Ploessl, 22, from LaCrosse, was operating his 2011 Mercedes-Benz E, when he struck a guard rail. After striking the guardrail, Ploessl lost control of his vehicle and crossed the center line before leaving the roadway and striking a rock wall and overturning.  

Ploessl was wearing his seatbelt, but still suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Ploessl was transported to Grant Regional Health Center by Cassville EMS for treatment of his injuries.  

Ploessl was arrested for operating while under the influence 1st offense, and cited for failure to maintain control of a vehicle.  

The Grant County Sheriff's Office was assisted at the scene by Cassville Fire Department, Cassville EMS, and Bennett's Towing out of Lancaster.  

Hit and Run in Town of Platteville 

On November 9, 2025, at 3:17 a.m., the Grant County Sheriff's Office communication center received a report of a single-vehicle accident. The caller advised the female driver had struck their tree and requested they not contact law enforcement.  

When a Grant County Deputy arrived at the crash scene, it was discovered the driver, Brandi Crubel, 26, Potosi, had fled the scene of the crash. It was determined Crubel lost control of her vehicle and crossed into the northbound lane before leaving the roadway to the left. Crubel struck a fence before the vehicle became immobilized and she ultimately fled the scene. It is suspected that speed and alcohol impairment were factors in the crash.  

While deputies were on scene, Crubel's husband, Ryan Crubel, 38, Potosi, arrived on scene. Ryan Crubel was arrested on an outstanding warrant.  

Brandi Crubel was cited for hit-and-run property adjacent to a highway, driving too fast for conditions, failure to keep vehicle under control, and possessing open intoxicants in a motor vehicle.  

Crubel's vehicle was removed from the scene by Precision Automotive.  

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Car Strikes a Semi-trailer Stopped for a School Bus 

On November 10, 2025, at 7:05 AM, the Grant County Sheriff's Office received a 9-1-1 call about a two-vehicle crash in Mt. Ida, on Hwy 18, between Cty K north and Cty K south. The caller reported the crash involved a car and a semi-truck.  

The investigating deputy learned that Jeffery Smethurst, 54, of Prairie du Chien, WI, was driving a 2026 International semi-tractor eastbound, pulling a loaded hopper trailer. Smethurst was stopped behind a school bus that was picking up kids from a house. At the same time, Janice High, 18, of Mt. Hope, was driving a 2009 Volkswagen PASSAT going east, approaching behind Smethurst's truck. High told the investigating deputy that she did not see the truck stopped for the bus, due to the glare from the sun.  

The front driver's side, of High's car struck the rear, passenger side of the semi-trailer causing severe, disabling damage to High's car, and functional damage to the semi-trailer.  

High was wearing her seatbelt and the vehicle's airbag did deploy, but she declined transport from EMS.  

High was cited for Inattentive Driving.  

The Sheriff's Office was assisted at the scene by Fennimore EMS, Fennimore Fire Department, and B&M Towing of Bloomington.  

Two Vehicle Crash in the Village of Blue River 

On Monday, November 10, 2025, at approximately 5:55 p.m., the Grant County Sheriff's Office took a report of a two-vehicle crash in the Village of Blue River, at the intersection of Dayton Street and North East Street.  

After a brief investigation it was determined Bryan Weller, 41, of Blue River, was traveling east on Dayton Street, in his 2017 Dodge Ram. Weller came to a stop on Dayton Street at the intersection of North East Street. Weller stated he looked both directions and then pulled out into the intersection, but he did not see the 2004 Saturn Vue, being driven by Mark Zierfus, 68, of Blue River, traveling north on North East Street.  

Zierfus was not able to stop his vehicle in time and collided with the front passenger side of Weller's vehicle. Zierfus was transported to Richland Center Hospital for suspected injuries from the crash.  

Weller was issued a citation for Failure to Yield Right of Way from a Stop Sign.  

The Grant County Sheriff's Office was assisted at the scene by Blue River Fire and EMS as well as Terry's Tire and Tow, out of Boscobel.

Car Vs. Dump truck Crash With Injury 

On 11/12/2025, at approximately 3:37pm, The Grant County Sheriff's Office received a report of a crash involving a car vs. dump truck, at the intersection of Highway 151 and West Ln.  

Along with deputies from the Grant County Sheriff's Office, Emergency responders from the Dickeyville Police Department, Dickeyville Fire and EMS, Jamestown Fire and First Responders, and Wisconsin State Patrol responded to the scene.  

When officers arrived on scene, they learned Jesse Weber, 24, of Platteville, and his passenger Azure Herrera, 24, of Platteville, were south bound on highway 151 in Weber's 2017 Ford Fusion. As they approached the intersection of Highway 151 and West Ln, Daniel Koeller, 59, of Potosi, was attempting to cross the median to the north bound lanes. Koeller was operating a 2018 Western Star dump truck with a trailer. As Koeller was stopped for traffic in the median, he was unaware the trailer he was towing was partially in the south bound lane of highway 151.  

Weber's vehicle struck Koeller's trailer, causing Weber's vehicle to enter the ditch. After entering the ditch, Weber's vehicle became engulfed in flames. Weber and Herrera were evaluated at the scene by Dickeyville EMS, and were eventually transported to SouthWest Health Center, in Platteville, for further treatment of their injuries. Koeller was uninjured in the crash.  

Weber's vehicle received disabling damage and was towed from the scene. Koeller's truck and trailer received minor damage and were able to be driven from the scene.  

The crash remains under investigation. 

The Sheriff's Office was assisted at the scene by Dickeyville Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, Dickeyville EMS, Dickeyville Fire Department, Jamestown First Responders, Jamestown Fire Department, and Ripp's Towing.  

Vehicle Fire on HWY 151 

On November 13, 2025, at 6:39 p.m., the Grant County Communications Center was notified of a vehicle on fire in the Northbound Lane of Highway 151, near mile marker 2. 

When the deputy arrived on scene, it was learned that Jaron Hach, 39, of Darlington, was operating a 2019 Kia Soul when an engine rod broke, disabling the vehicle. Once Hach was pulled over to the side of Highway 151, he observed flames coming from the engine compartment. 

There were no injuries, and Hach and his two passengers were able to get out of the vehicle.  

The Grant County Sheriff's Office was assisted at the scene by the Jamestown Fire Department, Jamestown First Responders, Dickeyville EMS, and Al's Towing.