A press release from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office

NEILLSVILLE — One person is dead after the car he was driving was involved in a crash on U.S. Highway 10 near Meridian Avenue in the township of Grant.

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call of the crash at about 12:18 p.m. on July 10. Initial investigation indicates that a construction zone flag man had stopped a semi-tractor and trailer driving east on Highway 10. Three automobiles had stopped behind the semi waiting for the flag man to signal to proceed.

While they were all stopped, a semi-tractor trailer driven by Roger Waltemate, 53 years old, approached them from behind and hit a Jeep Liberty being driven by Anthony Phipps, 47 years old. Phipps’ vehicle came to rest in the north ditch facing west.

After striking the Jeep Liberty driven by Phipps, the semi-tractor trailer driven by Roger Waltemate hit a Dodge Caravan, which in turn was pushed into a Mercury Sable.

The semi-tractor trailer continued east; struck a red Dodge Caravan driven by Raymond Fredrick, 67 years old; and pushed Fredrick’s vehicle into a Mercury Sable in front of him that was driven by Meghan Newman, 32 years old, and had a 10-year-old passenger.

The driver of the semi that was stopped on the road had seen the truck coming from behind him and accelerated to get out of the way. He moved far enough ahead to avoid being struck in the rear.

Phipps died at the scene from his injuries and was pronounced dead by Clark County Coroner Richard Schleifer. Newman and the minor were transported to the hospital with nonincapacitating injuries. Waltemate and Frederick sustained possible injuries and were not transported by ambulance.

All the occupants involved were wearing their seatbelts. Waltemate, Fredrick, and Newman are all from the Neillsville area, and Phipps was from Granton.

The Granton Area Fire and First Responders responded to the scene with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, Marshfield ambulance, Schleifer, Granton Police Department, and the Neillsville area ambulance. The investigation is continuing by the Clark County Sheriff’s and Coroner’s Offices and the Wisconsin State Patrol.

This is the fourth traffic fatality in Clark County for 2017.