UPDATED: Saturday, August 9, 2008 -- 1:20pm
A 33-year-old motorcyclist running from authorities is dead after a head-on crash with a suspected drunk driver in Dane County.
The sheriff's department says a DeForest police officer had just ended a chase of Michael Paul, from DeForest, when Paul's motorcycle swerved into oncoming traffic and hit head-on a Honda Accord on U.S. Highway 51.
The car's driver -- a 22-year-old Sun Prairie woman -- had significant injuries but is expected to survive. She was arrested for suspected drunk driving. Paul was not wearing a helmet and the driver wasn't wearing a seat belt.
The chase stopped and started twice after a deputy saw Paul weaving on the motorcycle in the Town of Windsor around 2:40 a.m. Saturday.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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UPDATED Saturday, August 9 --- 9:15am
**UPDATED: The deceased driver of the motorcycle has been identified as Michael S. Paul, 33, from DeForest.
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From Dane County Sheriff's Office:
At 2:40am, a Dane County Deputy Sheriff observed a motorcyclist weaving in the northbound lane of USH 51 near Gray Road, in the Town of Windsor. The deputy activated his emergency lights and sirens in an attempt to stop the operator of the motorcycle. The operator failed to stop, increased his speed, and turned west on Holum Street, in the Village of DeForest, in an attempt to elude the deputy.
Because the motorcyclists was carrying a passenger, the deputy terminated his pursuit of the motorcyclist. Seconds later, the deputy observed the motorcycle stop and the passenger dismount. The motorcyclist then fled north on Stevens Street from Yahara Street. A responding DeForest Police Officer observed the fleeing motorcyclist and began to pursue. Within a few more seconds, the deputy had identified the motorcycle operator through information from the passenger, and after announcing this information, the DeForest Police Officer terminated his pursuit. The motorcycle continued traveling north on Grinde Road toward USH 51.
After fleeing the Village of DeForest, the motorcyclist, age 33 of DeForest, crash head-on into a 2004 Honda Accord traveling southbound on USH 51, just north of Grinde Road. The motorcyclist, who was not wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at the scene. The operator of the Honda Accord, Rachel N. Hron, age 22 of Sun Prairie, sustained numerous significant, but non-life threatening injuries. Hron, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was transported by MedFlight to UW Hospital for treatment of her injuries.
Hron was charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated - 1rst Offense, and admitted to the hospital. The name of the motorcyclist is not being released at this time pending notification of family. Speed and alcohol appear to be contributing factors in this crash, which remains under investigation.
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Posted Saturday, August 9 --- 8:30am
DeFOREST, Wis. (AP) -- A 33-year-old motorcyclist running from authorities is dead after a head-on crash with a suspected drunk driver in Dane County.
The sheriff's department says a DeForest police officer had just ended a chase of Michael Paul, from DeForest, when Paul's motorcycle swerved into oncoming traffic and hit head-on a Honda Accord on U.S. Highway 51.
The car's driver — a 22-year-old Sun Prairie woman — had significant injuries but is expected to survive. She was arrested for suspected drunk driving. Paul was not wearing a helmet and the driver wasn't wearing a seat belt.
The chase stopped and started twice after a deputy saw Paul weaving on the motorcycle in the Town of Windsor around 2:40 a.m. Saturday.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.