A routine Monday morning drive on State Highway 29 ended in tragedy for a Clark County man, after his pickup crossed the median near Withee and was hit by a St. Croix County dump truck.
The driver, 59-year-old Eric Evenstad, was ejected from his pickup in the Jan. 27 crash, taken to Aspirus Stanley Hospital, and died on Feb. 7 from injuries tied to the collision, according to WSAW.
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened just before 8 a.m. on STH 29 west of Fisher Avenue. Investigators say the westbound pickup lost control, entered the median, began to spin and crossed into the eastbound lanes, where it was struck by an eastbound dump truck, per WSAW. The sheriff’s office told local media the investigation is ongoing and multiple agencies are working the scene and follow-up.
Victim and Crash Scene Details
Local reporting identifies Evenstad as the sole occupant of the pickup and notes he was not wearing a seatbelt when the truck was struck; he was ejected in the collision and later died at Aspirus Stanley Hospital, according to WEAU. WEAU also reports that both the pickup and the dump truck came to rest in the eastbound traffic lanes following the crash.
Response and Injuries
Emergency crews from the Thorp Area Fire and Ambulance Service, the Thorp Police Department and the Wisconsin State Patrol responded to the wreck, and the dump truck driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries, WSAW reports. Responders blocked the inside eastbound lanes while they cleared debris and began piecing together what happened.
Investigation Ongoing
Authorities say the crash remains under investigation, and officials have not released findings on the cause or contributing factors. No public updates on potential charges or citations had been announced at the time of reporting, according to WEAU. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office, the Clark County Coroner’s Office and the Wisconsin State Patrol are among the agencies involved in the probe.
Why Highway 29 Matters
State Highway 29 is a major east–west route across central Wisconsin and a familiar drive for commuters, truckers and local residents alike. It has seen other serious winter incidents in recent months, including a Jan. 19 crash near Bonduel that temporarily closed the highway, highlighting the risks of winter driving and work-zone activity, per WBAY. Local officials routinely urge extra caution on the route while individual crash investigations, like this one in Clark County, play out.
