Brodhead Woman Killed in Car-ATV Crash
Brodhead Woman Killed in Car-ATV Crash Save Email Print
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Monday, August 25, 2008 --- 1:55 p.m.

According to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office:

On Saturday, August 23, 2008 at approximately 4:22 p.m., the Jackson County Sheriff's Office received a report of a crash involving an ATV and a motor vehicle on Fish Creek Road in the Township of Knapp. The ATV driver identified as Karen Gibson, age 60 of Brodhead, Wis., was killed in the crash. A female child passenger on the ATV received non-life threatening injuries. The operator of the motor vehicle identified as Phillip J. Holloway, age 23 of Warrens, Wis., was taken into custody and is currently being held in the Jackson County Jail pending possible charges related to the crash. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in this incident.

There were three other crashes reported in Jackson County over the weekend which are believed to be alcohol related in nature. These crashes remind us of the consequences of drinking and driving along with the tragic results to the victims involved. Sheriff Duane Waldera strongly encourages everyone to avoid drinking and driving; and to remember the importance of safe and responsible driving.
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Posted by: jennysmith Location: USA on Nov 14, 2008 at 03:13 AM
The history of Wisconsin exemplifies the standard formula for westward expansion. ------------------------- Jennysmith DUI
Posted by: Txgirl Location: texas on Aug 31, 2008 at 09:21 PM
The questions should start going to the judge who relased Phillip on a bond! Are you serious! A repeat offender kills someone and is released on a bond and from my family i understand it was a signature bond! As for both families feeling the pain...unless Phillip is killed by a drunk driver tomorrow then they have no clue! I pray for his mother and we can only blame Phillip! However if I had to pick seeing my Aunt Karen on visitation days verses visiting a Graveyard I choose Orange jump suits! If anything good could come of this which is what I feel Karen would want;it would be strict laws and a break down on drinking in driving...4 DUI accidents and 1 death in a weekend is not a track record this town should want!
Posted by: Place blame on Aug 31, 2008 at 02:37 PM
We all read very well,and can tell you are trying to place blame on the deceased. You need to get a life, and when you do maybe you will see that the fact remains, HE WAS DRUNK AND DRIVING AND KILLED.....THE END.
Posted by: Learn to read! on Aug 29, 2008 at 09:49 AM
To: Are you serious...you shold learn how to read! What I am saying is that old country dirt roads are used for cruising/playing on. I did not say that 80% of the people drink/drive and kill! Get a life! I guess it shows how small some people's brains are. And if you are checking facts...Is Fish Creek an ATV trail? Were they wearing helmets? What are the laws on passengers? Legal? Especially small children? You are right, this could have been prevented. If the ATV was on a marked trail instead of a public road, this might not have happened.
Posted by: Listen up on Aug 29, 2008 at 04:56 AM
Co bloggers, you heard it from "just a thought" stay out of small, country towns cause they all (at least 80%) drink and drive without any concern for others. This is considered fun/play!!!! It is not passing judgment if the informational is factual. All I am saying is this death was preventable, if had not been able to drive. Very sad for all
Posted by: Are you serious on Aug 28, 2008 at 03:34 PM
TO: just a thought.....are you serious?? So you are saying 80% of people have drove DRUNK AND KILLED SOMEONE???
Posted by: just a thought on Aug 28, 2008 at 09:09 AM
I am not 100% sure but the last I knew Fish Creek was not a PRIVATE logging road...and what exactly is the speed limit on a private logging road anyways? Excessive speed? Fact remains that it is very sad for both sides of the situation. It's nice to see the on-line detectives have Phillip all figured out due to his record. Phillip has not done anything that 80% of the people around this area have not done at one time or another except have a tragic ending. This is a little country town (not a big city). In little country towns, people cruise old dirt roads to have fun/play. Think about the judgment some of you are passing. I feel horrible for Karen's family and friends, and for Phillips family and friends. For those who hold so much anger towards Phillip, would you feel the same if he was your son/brother/friend?? Some can not imagine the pain Karen's family is going through nor can some imagine the pain Phillip and his family are going through as well.
Posted by: Dismayed Location: Brodhead on Aug 28, 2008 at 05:11 AM
Once again, Karen was a very wonderful lady. My heart goes out to the family, and I pray that they do not read this nonsense. Karen was not doing anything wrong, and I believe she saved the life of her granddaughter. As to Holloway, he is a repeat offender, this was his 3rd arrest since Dec 2007 for owi, and he has had his licensed revoked in the past and that hasn't stopped him from driving. It is time our government stands up for what is right and starts to harshly punish repeat offenders. You can look up his record on www.wcca.wicourts.gov. It is all there. As to the Holloway family, I am sure this will be horrible for them also. I pray for the young man to learn his lesson (through a sentence), for him to recieve help he so needs. For the rest of you, it is not an accident, he choose to drink, he choose to drive and now he must pay the for it. Karen only choose to spend time with her family and be a loving and caring women with a heart of gold.
Posted by: can't believe this! Location: TX on Aug 27, 2008 at 06:12 PM
Just because you know the person who killed Karen Gibson does make it OK!!! She was not in the middle of the road! She pulled off the road and STOPED! It was NOT just an "ACCIDENT"! You were not there! Her grandaughter WAS! They were not even on the road nor moving and she is DEAD!!!!! As for if he would have swerved to avoid them, then he would have stayed on the road and Karen Gibson would be at home with her family right now!!!!!
Posted by: This Person's Opinion Location: Mount Horeb on Aug 27, 2008 at 06:07 PM
To "my opinion" at 12:26 PM: I agree “wrong place wrong time” but I disagree with your comment of "This is not something he does every day..." I checked CCAP to discover that since 2005, Phillip Holloway has been cited for a number of offenses. Phillip Holloway has exhibited poor judgment in the past in regards to drinking, driving and drinking & driving. For a young man of only 23, he has a relatively large number of alcohol related tickets. His charges include more than one underage drinking offense, inattentive driving, driving an unregistered vehicle, having seat belt violations for himself and a passenger, as well as refusing a breathalyzer in a previous OWI incident. The harsh reality is Phillip Holloway continued his pattern of using poor judgment on August 23rd. He is the individual who got behind the wheel of that vehicle drunk and drove down a private logging road at excessive speeds. Because of Phillip Holloway’s poor judgment Karen Gibson is no longer alive.
Posted by: Molly Location: Brodhead on Aug 27, 2008 at 02:29 PM
It is NOT an accident if you DRINK and DRIVE! It's impossible to feel sorry for the DRUNK DRIVER and his family when he took a life and took that life to early and took her from her family.
Posted by: Wow Location: the country on Aug 27, 2008 at 01:36 PM
RE..Gary Maybe you should run for president and then we would have a perfect world...There are a lot of illegal things in this world and yet it does not stop people from doing them. There are a lot of sober idiots who kill or mame innocent people too! They don't always have to be under the influence! If I was driving an ATV and I heard a car coming, I might have gotten off the road...which ATV's can do that...so I didn't get hit. I am not blaming anyone, I am trying to say it was an accident.
Posted by: Gary Location: Jefferson on Aug 27, 2008 at 12:33 PM
Ya know what? Until this state decides to do something about drinking and driving, I would rather not hear anymore about idiots who kill or mame innocent people by driving under the influence. Our politicians have the booze companies and the Wisconsin Tavern League lining their pockets with money, so this is never going to be handled properly. Hell, I remember when Doyle was thinking about raising the tax on cigs, a person asked one of our State Representatives why they do not raise the tax on booze (which has not been raised in over 15 years). Her reply was exactly this "Alcohol is like holy water in Wisconsin and we cant mess with that"! With that mentality, people, this problem will only get worse! Our politicians are crooked and do not care about anything other than their own personal agendas. Time this country has another revolt to remind the people in Washington and at the state level, they are to be serving for the PEOPLE, not themselves!!
Posted by: my opinion Location: Warrens on Aug 27, 2008 at 12:26 PM
I think this is devestating for both families involved. Neither will ever be the same. My heart goes out to Karen's family and to Phil's family. Most of you should know that this is an old dirt/back road. Not legal to drive on after consuming alcohol nor legal to drive an ATV on. Phil did not go out there intending on hurting anyone. Bottom line is that it was an ACCIDENT! What would have happened if there was no alcohol involved and he had swerved to avoid the ATV and hit a tree and was killed himself? Then who is at fault?? Sad for everyone!! People should stop pointing fingers and blaming. Those who know Karen, know she is a good person...those who know Phil, know he is a good person. This is not something he does every day....wrong place wrong time...both parties involved.
Posted by: sad Location: Brodhead on Aug 26, 2008 at 04:45 PM
Bottom line is this: no matter how wide the road was, or who should or should not have been on it, the fault lies with the killer who got behind the wheel drunk and drove ANYWHERE. No family deserves what he's putting them through or the loss of someone so special.
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 26, 2008 at 04:34 PM
I can't believe people can think Phillip Holoway can even be in the right. His 2nd offense and now he get out on $500.00 bond. Why? So, he can go out and kill someone else! Keep him in jail where he belongs. This way he can't do this to another family. It is too late for Wayne, and all the rest of Karen's family. Karen is going to really be missed by all. I hope Phillip Holloway can find a way to be able to even live with himself for doing this to a family. I also wondering what do your parents and family think and feel what you have done to other peoples lives, by killing someone that is so special and kind to everyone. Put yourself and your family in the Gibson's life and see what it feels like to have someone kill someone in your family.
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 26, 2008 at 04:16 PM
Don't expect a sever punishment for the crime. Wisconsin is really soft on drunk drivers. I believe that the tavern league has the legislature by the short hairs.
Posted by: alwaysright Location: wisconsin on Aug 26, 2008 at 03:18 PM
According to WKBT.com Phillip Holloway is charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, 2nd offense OWI & causing injury by OWI for killing Karen. He has a OWI charge pending from late May of this year. Hopefully, this doesn't stay caught up in the court system and its an open/shut case and he goes away for a long time and doesn't get another chance of doing this to another family.
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 26, 2008 at 03:01 PM
And, I am not a friend of the drunk. Perhaps there is some municiple thing that needs to be done to this road so that it does not happen again. ATVs don't belong on roads. But, drunk auto drivers don't belong on ATV trails. If it was a dual purpose road, it was clearly not wide enough and did not have enough shoulder.
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 26, 2008 at 02:59 PM
That was all I wanted to know. I asked why she was on the road. I am not familiar with the road or the area. Are you saying that 4 wheelers were allowed on the road or were they simply used there regularly? I know that on gravel, wooded roads, there is little or no shoulder.
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Brodhead on Aug 26, 2008 at 02:54 PM
Karen was one of the nicest people you could ever meet. My heart goes out to Wayne, her children and grandchildren. Thank God that her grandbaby that was with her is going to be OK.
Posted by: A friend Location: Brodhead, WI on Aug 26, 2008 at 02:36 PM
I believe it was not the drunk driver's first offense. And actually, yes, Karen was one of the nicest people you would ever have met. She always had a kind word for everyone, and will be deeply missed by almost everyone in town. It was my understanding that this was a dirt trail that 4 wheelers regularly used.
Posted by: amazed Location: dane county on Aug 26, 2008 at 02:27 PM
So, anonymous @ 1205: Is it so out of reach for you to put the fault on the criminal repeat drunk driver? The one who at least twice before got behind the wheel of a couple thousand pound weapon. The one who probably has been driving like this countless times but had only been caught 3 counting this one. Oh, but he's just a saint, isn't he? What are you, his bartender? 'Fraid you're going to lose a high volume customer?
Posted by: I can't believe u Location: TX on Aug 26, 2008 at 02:03 PM
To the person so worried why she was on the road, I would like to inform you of what her 4yr old grandaughter told the police! "There was a car comeing and Grandma pulled OFF the road but they kept coming and coming and hit us!" You need to stop worring about your drunk friend and think about the 4yr old that has deal with seeing her grandma and best friend KILLED right before her eyes. You may not know that Aunt Karen actually is a "saint" Good Day
Posted by: Anon Location: Madison on Aug 26, 2008 at 02:01 PM
The road in question in a single lane gravel/dirt road.
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 26, 2008 at 12:37 PM
They don't know why she was on the road and if they did, they are leaving that out.
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 26, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Oh forget I asked! You are all right. I'm sure she is sinless and completely innocent in this. She was a saint. The Pope is discussing her as we speak. She was driving on the road to save the homeless, right?
Posted by: ANONYMOUS on Aug 26, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Anonymous...you are an idoit. Why in the world would you inply it was her fault. SHE was hit by the DRUNK DRIVER! You apparently know the drunk who hit her because no one in the right mind would blame an innocent person for what happened.
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Brodhead on Aug 26, 2008 at 11:16 AM
The blog below is 100% correct. Karen is the kindness person you will ever meet. She would never say anything bad about anyone else. So many people from Brodhead know her as there family does so much for the community. She is going to missed deeply. My thoughts and prayers go out to her great family and friends.
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 26, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Ok, so you all know so much. I will ask this again: Why was she on the road?
Posted by: PrettyAnn Location: Brodhead on Aug 26, 2008 at 08:46 AM
Yes, you shouldn't jump to conculision unless you know the whole story. I know Karen and the little granddaughter very well actually to well! Karen was like a second mom to me. She was a very thoughtfull,caring and warm hearted lady who would do anything for anyone and never say anything bad about someone. If you walked down the street people in this town would say the same thing even if they didn't know her very well. She will be thought about every day and sadly deeply missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 26, 2008 at 08:20 AM
what do they mean alchcy was believed to be a factor??? they dont do breathalizers anymore?
Posted by: Gretchen Location: Madison on Aug 26, 2008 at 12:05 AM
anon 8/25-3:14 ~ yes, we are sure he was not talking about the dead woman because the story says the 23 year old male driver is being held pending charges. well, if alcohol was believed to be involved, and it was involved in the deceased person's blood, they don't mention that in initial press releases, since that would have to be confirmed by autopsy, but charging a living, breathing person with OWI is easy because they can take the tests needed to determine sobriety, or lack thereof! next time, use your head for more than a fur topped locker for your snot, doofus!
Posted by: Julia Location: Mazo on Aug 26, 2008 at 12:02 AM
Anonymous@2;23, Have you been to Jackson County? I don't think that there many taxis or safe rides in that area. Not every place has the options of the big city dwellers. Usually the only option is not to get behind the wheel after drinking. Unfortunately that doesn't happen often enough.
Posted by: alwaysright Location: Wisconsin on Aug 25, 2008 at 08:31 PM
Read the news article from wkbt.com the operator that was drinking was the operator of the automobile a Mr. Holloway and he is being held in jail, where he should be. My question for your comments is "how do you keep people from drinking and driving"? Everyday you read about someone being arrest for their 3-4-5- OWI and there is NO WAY to keep these idiots off the road. You can take away their license, you can put them in jail, once they are out they are back on the road. You can put a thing on their vehicle so the car doesn't start if they've been drinking, but they just drive another vehicle. To many people out there thinking it won't happen to me. I've donated to MADD and they can't do anything to stop them. It is very sad for the loss of Karen (a loving, wife, Mother, Grandmother and friend). But the fact remains some idiot is out there tonight drinking and driving. This "incident" will be life changing for this family, but also the family of the drunk driver.
Posted by: Beg2differ on Aug 25, 2008 at 03:44 PM
How sad to lose a mother, wife, and grandma due to stupidity of drinking and driving. My thoughts are with the family. How sad this could have been prevented by just not drinking and driving.
Posted by: amazed Location: dane county on Aug 25, 2008 at 03:29 PM
How sad. Someone's wife, mother and grandmother taken. My condolences to the family and their friends. I'm very glad the poor child is going to be okay, and I hope she remembers none of this as she grows up.
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 25, 2008 at 03:14 PM
Are you sure that it was not the driver of the ATV that the Sheriff is referring to? What was she doing on the road? It does not sound like she was just crossing it.
Posted by: Lori Location: Madison on Aug 25, 2008 at 02:44 PM
I commend the Sheriff for posting a much needed reminder of the consequences of drinking and driving.
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 25, 2008 at 02:23 PM
What are people thinking? With all the after drinking options,(ex. safe ride)why can't people use them? What's $20 for a taxi if it saves you $1000?
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