Sunday, January 4, 2009 --- 2:38 a.m.

Press Release from Rock County Sheriff's Dept.:

On Saturday, January 3, 2009, at approximately 8:29 PM, deputies from the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, along with officers from the Janesville Police Department and Milton Police Department responded to the report of a multiple vehicle crash on N. STH 26 approximately one-tenth of a mile south of N. Wright Road in the Town of Harmony, located in north central Rock County. Janesville and Milton Fire/EMS also responded to assist at the crash scene. Units began to arrive on scene at 8:33 PM. Southbound traffic for N. STH 26 was closed and diverted from 8:33 PM until approximately 10:15 PM.

The preliminary investigation showed that a 1996 Lincoln Town Car driven by Dani J. Briggs, age 55, of Palmyra, WI, was northbound on N. STH 26 when he lost control of the car on the ice-covered highway. Briggs’ vehicle slid passenger-side first across the grass median and into the path of an oncoming southbound 2000 Chevrolet Carryall Van, driven by David A. Cummings, age 44, of Woodbridge, IL. Cummings was unable to avoid the collision and his vehicle struck Brigg’s vehicle broadside on its passenger side. Both vehicles came to rest along the northwest shoulder of the southbound lanes.

Cummings was not injured. Dani Briggs suffered minor injuries and refused medical treatment at the scene. Briggs’ wife, Barbara L. Briggs, age 53, also from Palmyra, WI, was a passenger in Briggs’ vehicle and had to be extricated. She was transported by ambulance to Mercy Hospital and is listed in critical condition. Dani J. Briggs was arrested for Causing Great Bodily Harm by Intoxicated Use of a Motor Vehicle. Briggs is being held at the Rock County Jail pending his court appearance on Monday, January 5, 2009 at 4:00 PM. Pursuant to the directive of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicity, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

In an attempt to avoid the first crash scene, five other vehicles also traveling southbound on N. STH 26 were involved in two separate crashes. These five vehicles sustained moderate damage and one minor injury was reported. Three other southbound vehicles were able to avoid the crashed vehicles and ran off the roadway into the ditch and/or median. Those three vehicles sustained no damage.