UPDATED 7:30 pm. - DICKEYVILLE -One driver was injured, and USH 151 was shut down after a two-vehicle crash resulted in a large fire just east of Dickeyville.
On Oct. 29 at approximately 4:03 p.m. the Grant County Sheriff's Office was requested to a respond to a two vehicle crash involving a semi. The crash occurred around mile post 13 in the southbound lanes of travel.
A deputy was at mile post 9, when the call came into the Grant County Dispatch Center and responded quickly. As he arrived he could see a large plume of smoke rising in the air. A 2014 Wilson tractor pulling a 1997 van trailer loaded with sawdust, operated by Robert Koltes (54) of Dubuque was south southbound. A 2009 Freightliner hauling corn in a 2015 wilson Trailer operated by Justin Clare, age 28 of rural Platteville,
was attempting to make a right hand turn into the driveway of 4705 Highway 35/61/151.
This is when Robert noticed Justin was slowed down and attempt to avoid the crash by turning sharply to the left. Robert's truck and trailer collided with Justin's grain trailer. Roberts vehicle burst into flames catching the load of sawdust on fire. The fire quickly spread to the median where Robert's vehicle came to rest. Robert was able to get out the truck and was assisted across the highway and off of the highway. The truck and trailer and load of sawdust was a total loss.
Robert was transported to Southwest Health Center with non life threating injuries. The trailer and load of corn also caught fire but was extinguished before the fire could spread. Justin was not transported but checked out at the scene. This crash is pending investigation.
The crash resulted in Hwy 151 being shut down completely for a couple hours until one lane in each direction could be opened. There will be one lane closed tomorrow during the day as there will be some cleanup in the median.
Assisting at the scene, Platteville Fire, Southwest Health EMS, Dickeyville Fire and EMS, Lancaster Fire and EMS, Southwest Tech rescue, Guys Towing & Service and the Kieler Service Center.
ORIGINAL POST— At around 4:20 p.m., several area fire departments were called to the scence of a mulitple vehicle crash, reportedly involving a semi tanker truck, on southbound 151 near Airport Road north of Dickeyville.
A large smoke plumb was immediately visible from the 151/County D exit. Southbound traffic is currently backed up several miles to west of Grant County Roach O.
More details coming in this week's Platteville Journal and on SWNews4U.com.
