Adams County crashes claim two lives

For City Times
FRIENDSHIP — Two Wisconsin women are dead, after separate traffic accidents in Adams County. The crashes occurred July 16 – one in the early morning hours, and the other late at night.
According to Sherriff Brent York, the first crash was reported at approximately 6:43 a.m. Deputies and emergency services responded to a report of a two-vehicle crash with injuries at the intersection of Highways 23-and-B in the town of Dell Prairie.
The preliminary investigation revealed a vehicle driven by Michaela L. Schlake, 43, of Grand Marsh was traveling southbound on CTH B and failed to stop at the stop sign at STH 23. Schlake’s vehicle went through the intersection, striking a vehicle driven by Debra L. Holloway, 39, of Portage, which was traveling westbound on STH 23. The collision caused Debra’s vehicle to be redirected from the roadway and into the south ditch on STH 23. Upon entering the ditch, Debra’s vehicle overturned, ejecting her from the vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel.
Upon collision, Michaela’s vehicle continued westbound on STH 23 until it came to rest across both lanes of travel. Michaela was transported to Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital in Portage, and later transferred to UW Hospital in Madison.
The Wisconsin State Patrol’s Traffic Reconstruction Unit (TRU) responded to the scene and completed a reconstruction of the crash. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Dells-Delton EMS, Kilbourn Fire Department, State Patrol, City of Wisconsin Dells Police Department, Adams County Highway Department, and the Adams County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The accident remains under investigation. No additional information is being released at this time.
Charges against Schlake are expected to be referred to the Adams County District Attorney’s Office at a later date.
Meanwhile, a Wisconsin Dells woman was killed when she lost control of her vehicle late that evening.
At approximately 11:27 p.m., deputies and emergency services responded to a report of a single-vehicle rollover at STH 13 & Fawn Ave in the town of Easton, in southwestern Adams County.
Upon arrival, deputies observed a white car upside down in the tree line near the west side of STH 13, south of Fawn Ave. A lone female occupant was observed still in the vehicle. Deputies, bystanders and medical personnel were able to extricate the female from the vehicle. Medical personnel attempted life-saving measures, but were unsuccessful. The lone female occupant, identified as 42-year-old Christina M. Holman of Wisconsin Dells, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The initial investigation indicates Christina was traveling southbound on STH 13 when she went off the road and into the west ditch, striking an embankment, causing the vehicle to go airborne. The vehicle then overturned and eventually came to rest in the south ditch on Fawn Ave. Speed is believed to be a factor in the crash.
The Adams County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on scene by Lifestar Ambulance Service and the Adams County Medical Examiner’s Office. No further information will be released at this time.