A 79-year-old man died in the town of Viroqua on Thursday, apparently after attempting to drive through a water-covered road, according to the Vernon County Sheriff John B. Spears.
En route to pick up cattle near Soldiers Grove, Joseph B. Menne of rural Viroqua left his residence at about 11 a.m. and drove roughly two miles to Maple Dale Road, just south of Pierce Hill Road. There, his cattle trailer jackknifed, causing the truck and trailer to become stuck in the water, which reached about six feet. The water eventually filled the passenger compartment of the truck.
Menne was reported missing at about 6:57 p.m. He was pronounced dead at 9:08 p.m., after deputies had arrived at the scene.
This marks Vernon County’s third traffic fatality for 2016.
The Viroqua Fire Department, Vernon County Emergency Management, and the Vernon County Coroner’s Office assisted the sheriff’s office, which is investigating the accident.
