An early morning crash on the edge of Eau Claire County turned deadly Monday when a sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a person who ran from the scene of a three‑car pileup in the Town of Union, according to authorities. The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation has now been called in to sort out what happened. Emergency crews tried to save the person’s life, but the individual was pronounced dead where they fell.
What authorities say
State investigators say deputies first responded to a three‑vehicle crash at Highway 312 and Highway 12. One person took off on foot, which set off a chase that ended at Lyle Lane near Chuck Lane, according to Spectrum News. The deputy told investigators that when they caught up, the person pulled out a knife. The deputy then opened fire, hitting and killing the individual. Emergency personnel moved in and performed life‑saving measures, but the person did not survive.
Scene and local response
Local dispatch logs show the first calls coming in around 7:25 a.m. Investigators later said the crash left three vehicles banged up and one person with injuries described as non‑life‑threatening, as reported by WEAU. The Division of Criminal Investigation is running point on the case, with help from a DCI crime response specialist, the Wisconsin State Patrol, the Eau Claire Police Department and the Eau Claire County Medical Examiner. Officials with the DOJ have not yet released the name of the person who was killed.
Investigation and procedure
Investigators say the deputy involved in the shooting was wearing a body‑worn camera, and that footage is now part of the evidence pile. Moving the deputy to an administrative assignment while that evidence is reviewed is considered standard procedure, according to the Wisconsin DOJ. DCI crime response and digital evidence units typically help local departments document the scene and process video, physical evidence and witness statements. Once their work is wrapped, DCI usually forwards the full investigative file to the district attorney, who decides whether any criminal charges are warranted.
How this fits in the state
Across Wisconsin, officer‑involved shootings routinely trigger DCI investigations and administrative reassignments for the deputies involved, and recent cases have followed a similar script, including a Fond du Lac County incident covered by TMJ4. Those prior cases suggest local residents should brace for a slow grind. Reviews can stretch on for weeks or months, and any potential charges hinge entirely on what the evidence shows and how prosecutors read it. Local officials say more information will be released as the DCI investigation moves forward.
