A quiet Sunday morning in rural Iowa County turned tragic when an 83-year-old Mineral Point man died after the utility terrain vehicle he was driving rolled over and trapped him underneath.
Emergency crews freed the man, identified by the Iowa County Sheriff's Office as Gary Hamilton, and he was flown by air ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Crash details
First responders were called around 7:50 a.m. to a private residence on Shepherd Road in the Town of Linden. According to authorities, the UTV struck a tree stump and rolled, pinning Hamilton under the machine.
Crews on scene, including Mineral Point Fire Department, Mineral Point EMS and UW Med Flight, worked to extricate Hamilton before he was flown to a local hospital. The Iowa County Sheriff's Office said Hamilton was not wearing an occupant restraint at the time of the crash and that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is leading the investigation, as reported by WMTV.
Why restraints matter
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources stresses that wearing seatbelts in UTVs and completing a state-approved ATV/UTV safety course significantly cuts the risk of serious injury in a rollover, according to the Wisconsin DNR.
Earlier guidance from the agency notes that “Operators and passengers are all required to wear a seatbelt in a UTV” and that many fatal crashes involve riders who are not buckled in. DNR reporting shows 40 people died in ATV and UTV crashes in 2024 alone. The Wisconsin DNR continues to encourage riders to take safety courses and to wear both restraints and protective gear every time they head out.
Local context
This is the latest fatal off-road crash in the area. In November 2025, another man died after a UTV overturned in the Town of Eden in Iowa County while he was working on a property, a reminder of how quickly routine jobs can turn deadly, as reported by WMTV.
In the wake of repeated tragedies, local deputies and first responders have continued to urge residents to use seatbelts and exercise extra caution when operating UTVs on private land and trails.
Where to get help and report tips
The Iowa County Sheriff's Office and the Wisconsin DNR are still investigating Hamilton's death, and the coroner's office also responded to the scene.
For tips or additional information, the county lists a non-emergency number and other contact details on its sheriff's page. The non-emergency line is 608-930-9500, according to the Iowa County Sheriff's Office.
