Soldiers Grove woman killed in three-vehicle accident in Crawford County

Town of Scott, WIS. - On Tuesday, January 6th, 2026, at approximately 6:26 a.m., Sheriff Dale McCullick reports that the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office responded to a three-vehicle traffic crash on US HWY 61 near Bear Cave Lane.

Justin Forde (34) of Sparta, WIS., was operating a sport utility vehicle (SUV) southbound on US HWY 61 with his passenger, Kristen Howell (26) of Soldiers Grove, WIS. Forde lost control of his vehicle while negotiating a curve, crossed the centerline, and collided head-on with a northbound box-truck operated by Christopher Hahn (48) of Lancaster, WIS. As a result of the collision, Howell was ejected from Forde’s sport utility vehicle. Forde’s vehicle came to rest on the highway. Cheyenne Towsley (26) of Shullsburg, WIS., was operating a sport utility vehicle southbound on US HWY 61. Towsley was negotiating the curve and collided with Forde’s vehicle that was blocking her lane of travel. Howell was pronounced dead at the scene, Forde was extricated from his vehicle and transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, Hahn sustained suspected minor injuries, and Towsley escaped without injury.

The highway was closed for approximately five hours for accident reconstruction. A contributing factor of the crash was icy road conditions.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Boscobel Police Department, Boscobel Fire Department, Boscobel Rescue Squad, Wisconsin State Patrol, Soldiers Grove Fire Department, Crawford County Highway Department, Crawford County Coroner’s Office, Terry’s Tire & Tow, Guy’s Towing, and Larson Funeral Home.