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UPDATE: Driver Injured By Falling Concrete
UPDATED: Thursday, April 19, 2012 --- 3:13p.m.
Release from Dane County Sheriff's Office:
The Crime Scene Unit of the Dane County Sheriff’s Office has determined that the softball sized piece of concrete that struck and critically injured Kevin P. Droz, came from a broken-up section of roadway in the middle lane of northbound USH 151, near Nelson Road in the City of Madison.
Detectives believe an unidentified vehicle most likely kicked-up the piece of concrete that was then propelled through the windshield of Mr. Droz’s Pontiac Grand Prix.
The Department of Transportation has already repaired the area, which was approximately 51 inches long and 14 inches wide. It appeared to be part of an expansion joint which ran from the south shoulder to the north median barrier.
Mr. Droz remains hospitalized in fair condition.
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UPDATED: Wednesday, April 18, 2012 --- 3:00p.m.
A spokeswoman with UW Hospital confirms Kevin Droz is in fair condition.
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UPDATED Wednesday, April 18, 2012 --- 1:51 p.m.
Update from the Dane Co. Sheriff's Office:
April 18, 2012 – The man involved in last night’s incident on I-39 is Kevin P. Droz, age 50 of Fall River. Kevin remains hospitalized with serious injuries.
The Department of Transportation has determined that the piece of concrete did not fall from a bridge. The Dane County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the incident and encourages anyone with information to call the tip line at (608) 284-6900.
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UPDATED Wednesday, April 18, 2012 --- 1:31 p.m.
Update from NBC15's Barclay Pollak:
The Sheriff's Dept. says the material that went through the driver's windshield was used in road construction. Officials are still not sure if this was an intentional act.
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UPDATED Wednesday, April 18, 2012 --- 12:35 p.m.
Update from NBC15's Barclay Pollak:
Mike Bie, the spokesperson for the Dept. of Transportation, says crews inspected bridges this morning. Upon completion of those inspections, it was determined that concrete debris did not fall from any of the inspected bridges.
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UPDATED Wednesday, April 18, 2012 --- 11:31 a.m.
Click the photo tab above to see pictures of the vehicle hit by the falling concrete.
NBC15's Barclay Pollak is working this story. Dane Co. Sheriff officials tell him the driver's condition has been upgraded, but they can't provide any other information at this time.
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Posted: Wednesday, April 18, 2012 --- 5:20 a.m.
NBC15's Barclay Pollak is working to get more information on this story. He'll have more tonight on NBC15 News at 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
From Dane County Sheriff's Office:
At approximately 10:35 p.m., the Dane County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a critically injured man at the Columbus Community Hospital.
The individual had been struck in the head by a softball size piece of concrete which had passed through his windshield.
The driver, age 50, of Fall River, had driven himself to the Columbus Community Hospital.
He was stabilized by hospital staff before he was transported by Med Flight to the UW Hospital.
Deputies have not yet been able to speak with the driver.
The preliminary investigation estimates that the driver had been northbound on I-39 from USH 12/18. Preliminary investigation indicates the piece of concrete broke through the driver’s black 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix’s windshield somewhere on northbound I-39 between USH 12/18 and USH 151.
The driver possibly stopped his vehicle along the side of the road before he continued to the hospital.
The Dane County Sheriff’s Office is asking for any information from the public who may have witnessed anyone on the Milwaukee Street, Cottage Grove Road or Buckeye Road bridges over I-39 around 8:50 p.m. or drivers on northbound I-39 who may have witnessed large pieces of cement on the interstate around this time.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Dane County Sheriff’s Office Tips Line at (608) 284-6900 or the Dane County Communications Center at (608) 255-2345.
Read Comments
Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.-
by Lurkerer Location: UK on Apr 24, 2012 at 12:22 PMGet well soon brother, May God watch over you and your family. :)[ Report Abuse ]
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by Bunny Location: Columbus on Apr 21, 2012 at 09:28 PMHave you ever heard of Shock? Your body goes into shock and your body doesn't understand the extent of a critical injury especially a brain injury. The man was flown to Madison via med flight with critical injuries. Yes he drove to Columbus however, he doesn't remember it. He is my brother in law. Please not more "doesn't add up" comments.[ Report Abuse ]
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by Reality Check on Apr 22, 2012 at 10:07 PM in reply to BunnyBunny, realize that most of the comments you want censored were posted before more information was known. Saying that "he doesn't remember it" reinforces the questionable drive to Columbus. How many more lives did he also put at risk by driving impaired in his condition? I doubt you'd want someone to drive that (or any) distance under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.[ Report Abuse ]
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by Thinking Location: April, 20 on Apr 20, 2012 at 05:35 AMHas the possiblity of a commercial truck carrying chunks of used concrete been looked into? Maybe taking it to a landfill or recycling site. With a concrete sidewall and tall fencing seems odd that a piece of (rounded looking) concrete would just fly over the top. Just another scenerio to look at.[ Report Abuse ]
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by Just Sayin' on Apr 19, 2012 at 03:45 PMMaybe his injuries weren't as critical as the media reported. Maybe thought he wasn't hurt that bad but got progressively worse as he drove. And it was the size of a softball, not football.[ Report Abuse ]
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by Bunny on Apr 21, 2012 at 09:30 PM in reply to Just Sayin'it was bigger than a softball I seen it. Not as big as a basketball or football.[ Report Abuse ]
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by David Location: Columbus on Apr 19, 2012 at 07:58 AMThe CHS class of 79 wishes you well in your recovery.[ Report Abuse ]
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by Chris Location: Dells on Apr 18, 2012 at 08:22 PMNot to start with assumtions but this reminds me of incidents in the Eau Claire area where kids were throwing things off over-passes. If i recall 1 man was killed an a few others injured.[ Report Abuse ]
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by Mary Location: Madison on Apr 18, 2012 at 04:01 PMSounds like someone dropped a piece of concrete off a bridge.[ Report Abuse ]
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by Joe Location: Madison on Apr 18, 2012 at 03:55 PMHe got it in the head by a piece of concrete the size of a football while driving through Madison then drove all the way to Columbus (with a broken windshield) to get medical attention? Something doesn't add up here.[ Report Abuse ]
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by Bunny on Apr 21, 2012 at 09:24 PM in reply to JoeHave you ever heard of shock??? This man was in shock and doesn't even remember driving. Your body goes into a mode of adrenalin. He has a crushed scull and lost his eye..please no "doesn't add up" comments. Give him and his family a break. He was med flighted back to Madison with critical injuries[ Report Abuse ]
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by Huh? on Apr 18, 2012 at 12:45 PMWhy would you drive all the way to the hospital in Columbus?? There's a 24/7 emergency center just off of 151 in Sun Prairie. Then again, if you have critical injuries, why would you continue driving period? This makes no sense.[ Report Abuse ]
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