Grant County Authorities release information on four separate accidents
One Vehicle Rollover with Entrapment and Injuries
On October 7, 2026, at 6:40 AM, the Grant County Sheriff's Office received a notification for a crash on Hwy 35/61 near the Lancaster Airport, in South Lancaster Township. The caller reported that a single vehicle had rolled over, came to rest on the driver's side, and the driver was unconscious and still inside the vehicle.
Deputies from the Sheriff's Office responded along with the Lancaster Fire Department and Lancaster EMS. When the fire department arrived on scene, they requested a helicopter respond directly to the scene. UW MedFlight was dispatched to the scene.
The investigating deputies learned that Jacob Stelpflug, 24, of Lancaster, had been driving northbound on Hwy 35/61, when his vehicle left the east side of the roadway and struck the embankment for the driveway to Loudspeaker Components. The truck then went airborne for a short distance, impacting the ground in the ditch on the other side of that driveway, where it rolled multiple times.
Stelpflug had to be extricated from the vehicle by the Lancaster Fire Department. After being extricated, Stelpflug was immediately treated by EMS staff, and turned over to the crew from UW MedFlight. Stelpflug was airlifted to a hospital in Madison for treatment of his injuries.
Stelpflug's vehicle was removed by Bennett's Towing of Lancaster.
Due to the crash, Hwy 35/61 was shut down in both directions for approximately one hour.
One Vehicle Crash
On October 9, 2026, at 8:00am, the Grant County Sheriff's Office received a call from a motorist on Hwy 61 near Pine Grove Rd, south of Fennimore, that they witnessed a vehicle run off the road. Deputies from the Sheriff's Office responded, along with Fennimore EMS, Stitzer Fire Department, and the Fennimore Fire Department.
The investigating deputies learned that Steven Feldhacker, 69, of rural Fennimore, was driving a 2013 Chevrolet Impala going south of Hwy 61, just south of Pine Grove Rd. when Steven blacked out. His car crossed the centerline, and ran off the highway on the south side, going down the embankment, striking some trees before coming to rest against a barbed wire fence. Steven reported that he had been on his way to the hospital as he was not feeling well. He was uninjured in the crash but was transported by EMS to the hospital for the medical emergency he was experiencing.
Collision Specialist of Fennimore removed the vehicle from the scene.
Two Vehicle Crash Minor Injury
On October 9th at approximately 11:25am, the Grant County Sheriff's Office was notified of a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Highway 61 and Highway 129 in North Lancaster Township.
When deputies arrived on scene, they learned Eileen Henkel, 81, of Fennimore, was operating her 2021 Buick Enclave SUV northbound on Highway 61. At the same time, Larry Vesperman, 80, of Lancaster, was operating his 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee on Highway 129 and was stopped at the stop sign at the intersection with Highway 61. Vesperman intended to cross Highway 61 and continue onto Commercial Road. Vesperman did not see Henkel's SUV approaching from Highway 61 to the north, and he proceeded into the intersection.
The front passenger side corner of Vesperman's Jeep collided with the passenger side of Henkel's Buick. The impact caused the Buick to enter into a slide and leave the road on the east side. The Buick came to a rest in the ditch, and Vesperman's Jeep came to a rest in the roadway.
The Jeep sustained moderate damage and was driven from the scene. The Buick had airbag deployment and sustained disabling damage, and had to be towed. Henkel sustained minor injuries as a result of the crash, but refused medical treatment at the scene.
Rain causing reduced visibility was a factor in the crash, however, Vesperman was cited for Failure to Yield Right of Way from a Stop Sign. Doan's Auto Body and Towing assisted at the scene.
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Tractor Ran Off Road by Passing SUV
On October 10, 2026, at about 11:55 AM, the Grant County Sheriff's Office received a call about a tractor that had been ran off the road by a vehicle that did not stop. This happened on Clay Hollow Rd in Paris Township.
The investigating deputy learned that Beau Rindy-Droessler, 32 of Rural Cuba City, was driving a John Deere 4430 west on Clay Hollow Road, pulling two flat hay-wagons loaded with round bales. As Rindy-Droessler was coming around a corner, a smaller-to-mid-sized SUV reportedly came around the corner on the wrong side of the road. To avoid a collision, Rindy-Droessler turned his tractor to the right, causing the tractor to slide down an embankment. The first wagon jack-knifed at a right angle, and the tractor came to rest against a tree.
Rindy-Droessler was not injured.
The SUV did not stop, and continued east on Clay Hollow Rd. Rindy-Droessler described the vehicle as a sandy colored 2010-2015 Hyundai or Honda mid-sized SUV. Rindy-Droessler described the driver as being mid-20's to 40 years old, wearing a "floppy hat."
The Sheriff's Office is continuing to follow up on this crash and if you have any information about the SUV, please contact the Grant County Sheriff's Office and leave a message for Sergeant Nathan Gallagher.
The Dickeyville Fire Department assisted with traffic control as Clay Hollow Rd was closed between Hwy 151 and Morgan Rd., while Guy's Truck and Tractor of Kieler recovered the tractor from the embankment.
