Brown County emergency responders were dispatched to a three-vehicle accident early Wednesday afternoon with a fourth non-contact vehicle involved, belonging to a federal law enforcement agency, that traveled through a red light, according to witnesses on scene.
Witnesses stated that the three vehicles involved in the crash were at the intersection of US Hwy 183 and Early Blvd. when the light turned green and they began to move forward. The witnesses reported that an unmarked Ford Explorer belonging to a U.S Marshal traveled into the turn lane beside them and cut them off in the middle of the intersection. The Explorer continued driving with the emergency lights and siren active, according to witnesses. Dispatch stated that the marshal did call in that he traveled through a red light and multiple callers had reported the was an accident at the intersection.
One of the drivers involved, Greg Elhers, stated that the marshal “darted in front of everyone,” not leaving any time to react and caused the accident.
“The marshal cut everyone off and never stopped,” explained Ehlers. “His siren wasn’t very loud and sounded like a fan belt squealing. He left us no time to react.”
Ehlers stated that he understood that law enforcement officers sometimes have responsibilities where they would need to run traffic lights in an emergency. He stated the drivers involved in the accident were told by law enforcement that the marshal was driving to serve a warrant.
Ehlers was at the front of the lane in a Toyota Tundra and behind him was a Toyota Camry occupied by a male and female. He explained that they had started to move through the intersection as the marshal’s vehicle entered the intersection causing them to brake. The third vehicle involved was approaching the intersection and attempted to brake, however the GMC 2500 was not able to stop so unexpectedly and struck the Camry, causing it to rear-end the Tundra.
The Camry sustained heavy rear-end and front-end damage. Its female passenger was transported for evaluation and treatment of her injuries, which were not disclosed at the time of the accident.
The drivers of the pickups reported that they were not injured and their vehicles suffered very little if any damage. The U.S. Marshal’s vehicle was a non-contact vehicle in the accident, according to police. Early Police are continuing to investigate the crash.
Pictured above first responders tend to the injured occupant of the Toyota Camry. Below are more photos of the accident scene and the damaged Camry .
