County Board Public Works Committee s1

Walworth County Sheriff's Office 1770 County Road NN, P.O. Box 1004, Elkhorn, WI 53121 262-741-4400 (non-emergency)

Kurt Picknell, Sheriff Kevin Williams, Undersheriff

PRESS RELEASE

Incident # 17-039139 Type: Fatal Car Crash

Date: 10/09/2017 Time: 10:40 AM

Released by: Captain Dave Gerber Contact Person: Captain Dave Gerber 262-741-4441

Narrative

On Friday October 6, 2017 at approximately 5:09 PM the Walworth County Sheriff's Office received a report of a head on crash involving two vehicles on Hwy 12/67 approximately ½ mile north of Hwy ES in the Town of Sugar Creek, Walworth County, Wisconsin. Walworth County Sheriff’s deputies along with Fire and Rescue units from the City of Elkhorn were immediately dispatched. Upon arrival deputies observed two pickup trucks with extensive damage in the middle of the road with three victims collectively.

Preliminary investigation shows a silver 2000 Nissan Frontier pickup truck, driven by 24 year old Eufemio Jimenez Ferrel of Round Lake, Illinois, was southbound on Hwy 12/67. This vehicle crossed the center line and struck a grey 2007 Chevy Silverado 2500, driven by 52 year old Ronald Passfield of Genoa City, WI, which was northbound. Also in the Silverado was a passenger identified as 51 year old Jill Krane also of Genoa City, WI.

Despite life-saving efforts, 24 year old Eufemio Jimenez Ferrel of Round Lake, Illinois, who was the sole occupant in his vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Walworth County Medical Examiner’s Office. Both occupants of the Chevy Silverado were transported to area hospitals with critical injuries. Despite live saving efforts at a local hospital, 52 year old Ronald Passfield of Genoa City, WI also died. The injuries to the passenger in the Chevy Silverado, 51 year old Jill Krane of Genoa City, WI were severe, but non-life threatening.

Hwy 12/67 was closed for approximately 3 ½ hours due to this incident. The crash remains under investigation by the Walworth County Sheriff's Office Crash Investigation Team. Assisting agencies were the Elkhorn Police Department, Elkhorn Fire and Rescue, Paratech Ambulance Service, and the Walworth County Medical Examiner’s Office.