Waterford

Charges not expected in fatal Rochester crash

By Tracy Ouellette

Staff writer

According to the Racine County Sheriff’s Office, charges are not expected to be filed in Saturday’s fatal crash on Highway 36 in Rochester.

Donald H. Henderickson, 68, of Mauston, died after it appears he failed to yield at the stop sign at the Highway 36 intersection, said Lt. Tom Lamke.

“We’re still investigating and can’t say for sure, but it looks like he (Henderickson) didn’t stop.”

Henderickson was traveling east on North River Road in Rochester and T-boned Arnell Smith’s car, which was travelling southbound on Highway 36. Smith, 75, is from Cotton Plant, Ark.

“Both drivers were unfamiliar with the area,” said Lamke. “And that could have been a contributing factor.”

When police arrived, at about 7 p.m. Saturday night, they found Henderickson trapped in his vehicle; he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Smith and Henderickson’s passenger, a 19-year-old woman from Adams, were injured in the crash. Smith was transported to Burlington Memorial Hospital and treated and released. Henderickson’s passenger was taken by Flight for Life from the scene to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. According to Lamke, she has since been released from the hospital.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Wisconsin State Patrol, City of Burlington Police Department, Town of Norway Police Department and the Waterford Police Department.

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