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Hillsboro man thrown onto highway in alcohol-related incident
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A 24-year old Hillsboro man was thrown out of a pickup truck in an alcohol-related incident Sept. 6.

The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office in Viroqua reported Sept.  12 that Brandon Wangen was a passenger in the truck driven by Steven Blaha, 19, also of Hillsboro, on Hwy. 80 south of the city at 2:15 p.m.

Wangen was hanging out of the passenger window, and Blaha was driving the truck, when another passenger, 17-year-old Alannah Lancaster of Mauston, jerked the steering wheel.

Wangen, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected out of the passenger window and landed on the highway. Several passing motorists, including a former military combat medic and a firefighter, stopped to render aid.

He was transported to Gundersen St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hillsboro for head, hand and arm injuries.

Both Blaha and Lancaster were wearing seat belts.

Charges are pending against Lancaster, Blaha and Wangen, who are scheduled to appear in Vernon County Circuit Court Oct. 7.

Assisting at the scene was the Hillsboro Emergency Medical Service.