Draft Article
Last updated: September 2026
PRICE COUNTY, Wis. — The Price County Traffic Safety Commission met September 3 to review recent crash data, hear details of a fatal UTV rollover that occurred the day before, and learn about a new roadside oral fluid drug screening program recently signed into law.
UTV Fatality on County Road D
Price County Chief Deputy Robert Hahn reported that a UTV fatality occurred September 2 on County Road D. The crash took place in a highway construction zone where crews were performing re-shouldering work, but Hahn said the crash had nothing to do with the construction operations.
“It was in our construction zone, but the crash, based upon our investigation thus far, had nothing to do with our construction zone,” Hahn said. “This was outside of the flagging operations that were occurring.”
Hahn said the shoulder where the UTV went off did not give way and showed no rutting, adding that it does not appear the shoulder condition contributed to the crash. The Sheriff’s Department is working with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to determine the cause. The name of the deceased has not been released by authorities.
Hahn noted that K-9 units will shift focus to UTV and ATV enforcement in the coming weeks as the boating season winds down.
Year-to-Date Crash Statistics
Wisconsin DOT Law Enforcement Liaison Todd Horn presented crash data for Price County since the commission’s last meeting on June 4. Between June 4 and early September, the county recorded 43 total crashes resulting in two fatalities and 19 injuries. The September 2 UTV fatality was not included in those figures.
Year-to-date, Price County has seen 120 crashes with two fatalities and 30 injuries, Horn reported. Law enforcement recorded 164 enforcement instances during the same period since June 4, resulting in 141 citations and 57 warnings.
Horn also presented WISTAR mapping data now integrated into the state’s Community Maps platform. The tool overlays crash locations with enforcement heat maps, allowing agencies to assess whether enforcement coverage aligns with crash patterns. The system showed 164 enforcement instances across the county, with 141 citations and 57 warnings issued.
Statewide, Wisconsin recorded 311 fatal crashes with 331 deaths as of August 31, Horn said. That compares to 340 fatal crashes and 366 deaths at the same point last year — a downward trend, though Horn cautioned that summer remains the peak season.
Fatal Crash Reconstructions
Horn presented detailed reconstructions of two fatal crashes investigated by the Price County Sheriff’s Department earlier in the year.
The first occurred June 7 at 12:57 p.m. at the intersection of State Highway 111 and County Road J in the Township of Harmony. A 73-year-old female driver in a 2013 Chrysler Town & Country failed to stop at a stop sign and pulled into the path of a southbound 2023 Volkswagen. The vehicles collided in a front-to-side impact. The Town & Country driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. The Volkswagen’s driver, a 57-year-old male, and a 54-year-old female passenger both suffered serious injuries and were trapped in the vehicle. A 13-year-old male passenger in the back seat suffered minor injuries. All three Volkswagen occupants were wearing seatbelts and were transported for medical treatment. No alcohol or drugs were suspected. The intersection had only one recorded crash in the previous four to five years, Horn noted.
The second fatal crash occurred June 23 at 4:20 p.m. on State Highway 13, approximately 1,000 feet north of White Rock Road. A 41-year-old female driver in a GMC Acadia drifted off the right shoulder, re-entered the roadway, then drifted off again and struck a tree on the driver’s side. The driver was partially ejected and died at the scene. Seatbelt use was unknown. While the initial crash report did not indicate alcohol involvement, Hahn clarified that the autopsy report revealed alcohol was present. The area had four crashes over a five-year period. Road conditions were dry and clear on both occasions.
Oral Fluid Drug Screening Coming to Wisconsin
Amy Eisler, a breath alcohol toxicologist with the Wisconsin DOT Chemical Test Section, presented on a new oral fluid drug screening program authorized under Wisconsin Act 99, which amended state statute 343.303. The law also amended ATV, UTV, boat, snowmobile, and off-highway motorcycle regulations.
The program allows law enforcement to use roadside oral fluid devices to detect the presence of drugs — including amphetamines, benzodiazepines, cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates, delta-9 THC, and fentanyl. The devices return a positive or negative result for each drug class.
Eisler emphasized that the oral fluid test is a screening tool, not evidentiary. It falls under the same administrative code as preliminary breath tests (PBTs), meaning results are not admissible in court. Drivers can refuse the test without penalty, just as they can refuse a PBT.
“This is not meant to replace DREs or what we know as drug recognition experts,” Eisler said. “It’s to help assist.”
The devices cost approximately $5,000 each, with single-use cartridges at $25 apiece. Eisler said her administration is developing a training program, and every officer using the device must be permitted. The chief of the Chemical Test Section is currently evaluating devices for approval. Eisler said she hopes to begin training law enforcement agencies sometime next year, though no exact timeline has been set.
The program follows studies conducted in Dane County in 2016 and Manitowoc County in 2019 — the latter delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic — both of which found oral fluid results comparable to blood testing for drug detection.
County-Wide Radio System Study
Jason McMillan announced that TUSA Consulting Services will be on-site the week of September 28 to begin a comprehensive study of Price County’s radio communications system. The county board approved the study in recognition that the current system is nearing end of life.
McMillan said the county is inviting all stakeholders who use radios — including schools, law enforcement agencies, fire departments, EMS, the hospital, the highway department, and State Patrol — to discuss current systems and explore whether a unified county-wide system is feasible.
“If we have one large system where people use channels, you might not have to have your own million-dollar system,” McMillan said.
The consulting firm expects to complete its research by the end of December. The county board would then review findings and decide whether to issue a request for proposals, a process that could take three to six months. A potential system buildout would target 2028 for go-live.
State Patrol Personnel Update
Wisconsin State Patrol Sergeant Timothy Westfall, joining remotely, announced that Trooper Amos Balsas has been assigned to Price County. Balsas brings approximately 20 years of law enforcement experience as a former investigator with the Taylor County Sheriff’s Department and has been with the State Patrol for about one year. He replaces Trooper Jankowski, who transferred to Lincoln County.
Electric Vehicle Enforcement Guide
Horn distributed an enforcement flowchart created by the Green Bay Police Department to help officers classify electric vehicles — including e-bikes, motor bicycles, mopeds, and motorcycles — and determine licensing, registration, insurance, and OWI requirements. The guide addresses a growing issue with modified e-bikes and electric dirt bikes capable of exceeding 40 mph that do not fit under any legal category and are illegal to operate on roadways. Horn noted that Vilas County has been particularly proactive in enforcement, and Sergeant Westfall confirmed State Patrol is also stopping and contacting operators, often involving parents and having vehicles towed.
MUTCD Updates
Horn reviewed notable changes to the 11th edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which Wisconsin adopted earlier this year. Key changes include:
- Speed feedback signs must use black and yellow signage, mounted underneath regulatory speed limit signs. Existing non-compliant devices may remain until the end of their useful life.
- Emergency routing signs are transitioning to green.
- Adopt-a-highway signs are changing from white to blue.
- Six-inch lane lines are required on state roads; local roads may still use four-to-six-inch markings.
- New school zone sign designs are being implemented.
Horn noted that any speed feedback sign placed on a state road requires a DOT permit. Agencies with questions about signage can contact Ryan Myers at the WisDOT central office in Madison.
Construction Updates
Randy Ruby, traffic safety engineer, provided updates on three projects:
- County D (10.3-mile safety improvement): Nearly complete. Guardrail work is finished; line painting is the remaining task, expected by the following Thursday.
- Hills Road Bridge: Construction has not yet started. The contractor has not completed required erosion control documentation, and it is uncertain whether the project will proceed this year due to asphalt placement time constraints.
- Larkin Road Bridge: Closed this week for replacement, with construction running from May 2026 to November 2027. Detour routes are posted.
Nine Mile Tavern Crossing Request Denied
Ruby reported that the owner of Nine Mile Tavern requested a pedestrian crossing sign on Wisconsin Highway 70. A crash history review found only one crash at the location from 2016 to 2026 — a single run-off-the-road incident — and no pedestrian safety pattern was identified. The request was denied. A separate request to review pavement markings and potentially relocate a passing zone was forwarded to the DOT pavement engineer, who is unlikely to recommend changes.
Next Meeting
The Price County Traffic Safety Commission’s next meeting is scheduled for December 3, 2026.
See also: our ATV trail guide for Price County
See also: our guide to free camping in Wisconsin
See also: our complete lodging guide for Price County