Grant County Authorities Release Information on Two-Vehicle Crash and a Semi Rollover

2 Vehicle Crash 

On September 20, 2026, at 12:14 PM, the Grant County Sheriff's Office received a report of a 2 vehicle crash with injuries on Hwy 81 just north of Debuhr Ln., in Smelser Township.  

When deputies arrived on scene, they learned Jaime Bhattascharyya, 49, of Platteville, was stopped in the lane of traffic waiting make a left turn into a driveway. Bhattascharyya was driving a 2020 Hyundai with two juvenile passengers. Lucas Jansen, 22, of Benton, was also going south on Hwy 81 in his 2005 Honda Accord. Jansen stated that he had been distracted by his radio and did not see the other vehicle had stopped in the roadway.  

A witness confirmed that Bhattascharyya's left turn signal was activated and that Jansen attempted to swerved to try and avoid the crash, but Jansen's vehicle ended up crashing into the rear of Bhattascharyya's vehicle. 

Bhattascharyya was not injured but her passengers were taken to Southwest Health Center in Platteville, for suspected minor injuries. Jansen was trapped in the vehicle, and after extrication was transported to Southwest Health Center for non life threatening injuries.  

Both vehicles sustained heavy damage and had to be towed from the scene. The Grant County Sheriff's Office was assisted at the scene by the Platteville Fire Department, Southwest Health EMS, Donnies Tire and Tow, and RIPPS towing service.  

Semi Hauling Whey Overturns - No Injuries 

On September 20th at approximately 1:37pm, the Sheriff's Office was notified of a semi truck and trailer that had overturned on County Highway O just east of Beagle Lane, in Harrison Township.  

When deputies arrived on scene, they learned Colton Riechers, age 21, of Darlington, was operating a 2020 Peterbilt semi-truck, hauling a tanker trailer of whey, westbound on County O. Riechers drifted off the road and entered the shoulder on the north side. The shoulder/ditch was soft and Riechers was unable to correct the semi and get it back on the roadway. The truck and trailer traveled further down the ditch where it struck a culvert and overturned onto its passenger side.  

Reichers was able to exit the truck on his own and was uninjured in the crash. The truck and trailer sustained extensive damage and had to be towed. There was whey spilled from the trailer as a result of the crash, and notification was made to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 

The Grant County Sheriff's Office was assisted at the scene by the Grant County Highway Department, Grant County Emergency Management, and Guy's Truck and Tractor Service.  

The crash remains under investigation by the Sheriff's Office and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. A portion of CTH O was closed for a couple hours while the truck and trailer were removed from the scene.