Alcohol a factor in Monroe County Christmas Eve accidents
SPARTA, Wis. — Authorities say alcohol appears to be a factor in a fatal rollover and a two-vehicle accident Christmas Eve in Monroe County.
FATAL ROLLOVER
35-year-old Kevin Mahan of Sparta was driving east on Highway 71 just after 2:30 a.m. when he lost control of his vehicle on a curve and rolled it into a ditch.
Mahan, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.
TWO-VEHICLE ACCIDENT
705954854-year-old Diane Krogstad of Black River Falls was driving south on Highway 12 at around 2:20 p.m. in the Town of Lincoln when 44-year-old Mary Miner of Tomah pulled out of a bar parking lot.
Krogstad was not able to stop in time and hit Miner’s vehicle.
Miner was taken to Tomah Memorial Hospital, and was later airlifted to Gundersen Lutheran. She was listed in fair condition Tuesday afternoon.
Krogstad was taken to Tomah Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Miner’s brother, Percy Miner, a passenger in her vehicle, was not hurt.
Sheriff Pete Quirin tells News 8 it appears both Miners were drinking just before the accident.
Miner was pulling out of the Lizzie’s Tap parking lot when the accident happened, and deputies could smell a strong odor of alcohol in the vehicle.
Percy Miner was cited for having open intoxicants in the vehicle.
Quirin says the bartender at Lizzie’s Tap told investigators the Miners had been drinking at the bar before the accident.
