UPDATED Thursday, September 17, 2009 --- 11:40 a.m.

UPDATED News Release from the Lafayette County Sheriff's Office:

The names of the two men killed on Highway 78 near the Wisconsin/Illinois border last evening are now being released.

They are identified as Avari D. Baker, age 29, and Leonard L. Harris, age 32. Both men have Freeport, IL addresses.

The investigation surrounding these two deaths is continuing.

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UPDATED Thursday, September 17, 2009 --- 8:15 a.m.

DARLINGTON, Wis. (AP) -- Two Illinois men were struck and killed after their fight spilled onto a southern Wisconsin highway.

Lafayette County sheriff's officials say the two men from Freeport, Ill., were passengers in a vehicle driven by a Darlington woman. The driver pulled over along Highway 78 near the state line after the men began arguing. The two men got out and started fighting on the highway and were struck about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Sheriff's deputies say the men were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle that hit the men was taken to a hospital for minor injuries. Two children in her car weren't hurt.

The driver of the other vehicle was cited for drunken driving.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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Posted: Thursday, September 17, 2009 --- 6:20 a.m.

Two men are dead after they were hit by a car when they were fighting in the road.

The Lafayette County Sheriff's department says it happened last night around 11:30 on State Highway 78, near the Wisconsin-Illinois border.

Two men from Freeport, Illinois were passengers in a car and started arguing.

The driver stopped the car and the two men got out and began fighting in the road.

A woman from Monroe was driving south and hit the men. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

The woman who hit them was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

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HERE IS THE PRESS RELEASE FROM THE LAFAYETTE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

Last evening (Wednesday September 16) at 11:34 p.m., that Lafayette County Sheriff's Office was notified of a serious motor vehicle crash on State Highway 78 near the Wisconsin-Illinois border. Lafayette County Sheriff's Deputies, Warren (IL) Police, Warren Fire Department, Warren ambulance and Jo Daviess County (IL) Sheriff's Deputies responded to the area.

The preliminary investigation indicates that two (2) men with Freeport, IL addresses, had been passengers in a vehicle being driven south on Highway 78. An argument occurred and the driver of the vehicle stopped along Highway 78 near the state line. The two (2) male passengers exited the vehicle and became involved in a physical altercation on the roadway. While they were engaged in the physical altercation they were struck by an automobile being driven north on Highway 78. The two men were not readily visible since they were lying in the north bound lane while fighting.

Both men sustained serious injuries and both were pronounced dead at the scene by Lafayette County Corner Virginia Douglas. Their names are not being released until next of kin can be reached.

The driver of the vehicle striking the two was identified as Carrie A. Thompson, age 33, of Monroe, WI. Thompson was driving a 2000 Oldsmobile 4 door. Carrie Thompson was transported by ambulance to an area hospital for non-life threatening injuries. Two children in the Thompson vehicle were not injured.

The driver of the vehicle the two men had been riding in prior to the incident has been identified as Sharon L. Andrews, age 32, of Darlington, WI. Sharon Andrews has been cited by Lafayette County Deputies for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicants.

These are the fourth and fifth traffic deaths in Lafayette County this year.

The investigation of this case in continuing.

Scott Pedley
Sheriff