Crash Reports

Two vehicle crashes

On January 11, at 7:30 a.m., a vehicle driven by Marcia Riehle, 49, of Stratford, was traveling westbound on CTH O in the town of Medford, and was attempting to make a right turn onto Crane Dr. Riehle’s vehicle slid on the hard packed snow, icy road and slid into the northwest ditch coming to rest against the stop sign. Krug’s Towing removed the vehicle and the driver was able to remove from the scene.

On January 9, at 7:51 a.m., a Taylor County sheriff’s deputy responded to a two vehicle crash on Hwy 13 in the town of Little Black. A vehicle driven by Harold Reader Jr., 39, of Dorchester, was northbound on Hwy 13, just north of Finch Ave. A vehicle driven by Myah Jo Garcia-Smith, 18, of Medford, was traveling behind the Reader vehicle. Reader slowed down due to a dog crossing the road. Garcia-Smith was not able to slow down hitting the back bumper of the Reader vehicle with her front end. Both vehicles sustained functional damage. Garcia-Smith was cited for automobile following too closely.

On December 31, 2023, at 2:45 a.m., a vehicle driven by David Molina Lopez, 40, of Stratford, was traveling northbound on Hwy 13 in the town of Deer Creek. A vehicle driven by Ramiro Ramirezsalinas, 30, of Medford, was also traveling northbound. Ramirezsalinas was traveling faster than Lopez and struck the rear driver’s side corner of the Lopez vehicle. Both vehicles entered the ditch. Lopez was able to get out of the ditch without assistance. Ramirezsalinas was arrested for operating without a license and operating while intoxicated and ticketed for driving too fast for conditions. Lopez was cited for operating without insurance. The Lopez vehicle was limped from the scene and the Ramirezsalinas vehicle was left in the ditch to be removed at a later time with disabling damage.

One vehicle crashes

On January 9 at 8:27 a.m., in the village of Rib Lake, Taylor County Sheriff’s Deputy Dylan Lindsey responded to a property damage complaint at the intersection of Fayetteville Ave and Tannery Lane. The complaint stated that a vehicle struck and knocked down a stop sign and damaged their fence. The owner of the fence was able to provide a plate number and vehicle description. The deputy was able to locate the vehicle, which had left the scene. The deputy verbally identified the driver as Kaedyn Kopelke, 17, of Ogema who admitted he was the one that struck the sign and left. Kopelke was verbally warned for actions and driving behavior.

On January 12 at 5:42 p.m., a vehicle owned by Kevin Kree, 53, of Athens was parked and unoccupied/backed

TAYLOR COUNTY SHERRIF’S DEPARTMENT

into space at the Taylor County Courthouse. A vehicle operated by Ryan Rothamer, 62, of Medford, was backing out of a parking space from across the aisle. While backing the rear of Rothamer’s vehicle struck the front of Kree’s vehicle.