Fatal accident(s) caused by road conditions… (updated)

Slippery road conditions and winter weather managed to claim the life of a Norwood Young America senior in a single vehicle accident Feb. 29 (UPDATE: as well as the life of a woman in Maple Lake Township in Wright County).

Gilbert Frank Wuetherich, 88, of Norwood Young America, died March 03 from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle crash that happened in Carver County on County Road 33 just north of County Road 50 in Young America Township in Carver County.

On the day of the crash at about 12:57 p.m. the Carver County Sheriff’s 9-1-1 Dispatch center received a call of the crash. Upon investigating, deputies found that a white 1999 Buick had been traveling south on County Road 33 when it hit a patch of slush/snow on the road, lost control and left the roadway. After leaving the roadway the car rolled and hit a tree. The cars driver and lone occupant was Wuetherich. Wuetherich was injured in the crash and transported from the scene by Waconia Ambulance.

On March 4, the Carver County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the Hennepin County Medical Examiners Office that Wuetherich had died March 03, 2008 as a result of injuries sustained in the motor vehicle crash Feb. 29.

UPDATE: Another fatal accident caused by poor winter road conditions was reported by Sheriff Gary Miller in Wright County, near Maple Lake. The crash in Maple Lake Township claimed the life of a 35-year-old female from Big Lake.

At 7:19 am, on March 6, the Wright County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received a report of a two vehicle crash on County Road 37 just West of Crofoot Avenue in Maple Lake Township.

A 2001 Pontiac Aztec being driven by Janice Scully from Big Lake was traveling westbound on County Road #37 when it hit a patch of ice on the roadway, lost control skidding broadside into the path of an eastbound 2006 Ford Taurus driven by Julie Skouge, 24, of Annandale.

Janice Scully, the lone occupant in her vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene. Julie Skouge, also the lone occupant in her vehicle, was transported by Allina Ambulance to North Memorial Hospital where she was treated for non-life threatening injuries.