October 27, 2021 – Washington Co., WI – The Washington County Sheriff is expected to release more information shortly regarding the fatal crash October 16, 2021 at the intersection of County Highway Z and Pleasant Valley Road.
The two-vehicle crash killed 28-year-old Anna Severance and injured the other driver.
“I’m going to be very interested to see the speed calculations regarding the pickup truck that was westbound,” said Sheriff Martin Schulteis. “Just by the testimony of the witnesses it seemed he was driving pretty aggressively prior to the crash and that will be the most contributing factor.”
Schulteis said the man in the striking vehicle was also transported from the scene as he required medical attention. “He suffered some pretty significant injuries as well,” said Schulteis.
That driver’s name has not been released.
Once the investigation is complete and the witness statements and accident reconstruction is done the Sheriff will sit down with the district attorney to see if this is a case that rises to criminal negligence.
According to the Sheriff:
- One man in his mid-50s from Washington County was in the striking vehicle
- Authorities do not believe impairment was a factor in the accident however the speed of the striking vehicle is being reviewed.
- An initial investigation showed a westbound vehicle on Pleasant Valley Road failed to yield for the stop sign and struck the southbound vehicle at a high rate of speed.
As far as the history of the safety of the intersection is concerned, data from Community Maps – Wisconsin County TSC Crash Mapping indicates:
Click HERE to view crash mapping for Washington County, WI
- This has been the only fatal accident at CTH Z and Pleasant Valley Road in the past 20 years
- Between January 2001 and October 2021 there have been two serious crashes north on CTH Z; one crash was at the entrance to Ackerman’s Grove County Park in 2010 and the other was just south of Starlite Drive in 2011.
- The closest fatal accident to CTH Z and PV occurred in 2006 on Cedar Creek Road about a half-mile west of Lily Road. Another fatal accident occurred about 2-miles east on PV at Highway P in 2005.
A memorial service for Severance will be held Friday, November 5 at 6 p.m. at Kettlebrook Church in West Bend. Click HERE for details.
