A Saturday afternoon drive on State Road 93 in Trempealeau County ended in tragedy when a two-vehicle crash left one person dead and another airlifted to the hospital, according to authorities. Deputies said a black SUV hit a deer, lost control and slid into the northbound lane, where it collided head-on with a black pickup about two miles north of Fox Coulee Lane in the town of Trempealeau. The highway was shut down for a period while emergency crews worked the scene.
According to WXOW, the SUV passenger was pronounced dead at the scene, while the pickup driver was flown by helicopter to a hospital. The Trempealeau County Sheriff's Office has not released the names of those involved, and the crash remains under investigation, the station reported.
Deer strike triggered the collision
Deputies told reporters the chain of events started when the SUV struck a deer, a familiar roadside danger in Wisconsin this time of year. The Wisconsin DOT says deer activity climbs in May and June during fawning season, and 2025 saw roughly 17,800 deer-related crashes statewide, with six deaths and more than 700 injuries, according to WBAY. Officials urge drivers to use headlights at dawn and dusk and to brake firmly instead of swerving if an animal appears in the road.
STH 93's recent crash history
State Road 93 has had its share of trouble lately. In mid-May, a separate head-on crash on the same highway sent two people to the hospital, as reported by WEAU. Rural state highways like 93 combine higher speeds with long stretches of open roadway, a mix that can turn wildlife encounters or brief centerline drift into serious collisions.
The Trempealeau County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation and will release more information as it becomes available, WXOW reports. Investigators are asking anyone who may have seen the crash or captured it on dash-cam video to contact the sheriff's office.
