BY MIKE WARREN
EDITOR
TOWN OF AUBURNDALE — An elderly woman driving the wrong way on a four-lane divided highway killed an oncoming motorist and injured his passenger and herself. The accident happened at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 26 on US Highway 10 near Day Road in the Township of Auburndale.

According to the Wood County Sheriff’s Department, an eastbound car on Hwy. 10, being driven by Michael Baugh, age 25, of Arpin, was in the right lane behind a semi, when he moved into the left lane to pass the rig. Baugh’s car collided head-on with a Rav4 traveling westbound in the eastbound lane. The driver and sole occupant of the Rav4, Elsie Punke, age 70, of Arpin, was transported to Marshfield Medical Center by Marshfield Ambulance in critical condition. Baugh was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger, Alissah Hardesty, age 23, of Arpin, was transported to Marshfield Medical Center by Marshfield Ambulance with minor injuries. The crash is still under investigation and being reconstructed by the Wisconsin State Patrol. 

The Wood County Sheriff’s Department was assisted by Marshfield Ambulance, Auburndale Fire Department and First Responders, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wood County Highway Department, Wood County Coroner’s Office and Wood County Central Dispatch.