Clark County highway worker killed, another injured while clearing tree

NEILLSVILLE, Wis. (WKBT) — A Clark County Highway Department worker was killed and another was injured Saturday while removing a tree across a highway county.

Russell J. Opelt, 57, died after being hit by a car at about 1:18 a.m., according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. David L. Murphy, 60, was injured.

The two men were called out at about midnight to Hwy. G by Mann Road in the town of Hendren to clear a tree off of the road. While working to remove the tree, a car driven by Cory D. Neumueller, 28, drove south on Hwy. G and hit both the workers and the tree. Murphy called 911 to report the crash at 1:18 a.m. and was taken to the hospital. Opelt died at the scene.

Neumueller was arrested for both homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and causing injury through intoxicated use of a vehicle. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office says speed and impairment are factors in the crash.

The Greenwood Area Ambulance and Fire Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, Clark County Sheriff and Coroner’s Office responded to the scene. The incident remains under investigation.