Town of Gratiot – An Illinois man was Medflighted after the truck he was driving struck a semi-tractor trailer on Friday, March 27.
Jeremy A. Eicher, 19, Orangeville, Ill., received life saving measures at the scene by first responders before being UW Medflighted to UW Hospital and Clinics in Madison.
Semi-tractor trailer driver Jimmy L. Klenz, 48, Brodhead, only received minor injuries and was transported to the Monroe Hospital and Clinics in Monroe, where he was later released.
According to a press release from Lafayette County Sheriff Reg Gill, on Friday, March 27 around 2:43 p.m. Klenz was driving his 2004 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, eastbound on South Prairie Road, in the Town of Gratiot, when he failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of CTH KK.
Eicher’s truck traveled into the path of a northbound 2007 Kenworth semi-tractor trailer operated by Klenz. Klenz was unable to avoid striking Eicher’s truck, causing the pickup to rollover before both vehicles came to rest in the ditch at the northeast corner of the intersection.
Eicher’s pickup truck sustained extreme damage and was towed from the scene. Klenz’ semi-tractor trailer sustained moderate damage and was also towed from the scene.
The Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Warren, Illinois Police Department, Gratiot Fire and First Responders, Green County EMS, Warren, Ill., Area Ambulance Service, Lafayette County Highway Department and Wisconsin State Patrol.