James Wacholtz Jr., a 48-year-old man from Rib Lake, Wisconsin, died in an ATV accident over the weekend. The accident occurred in the Village of Rib Lake, and Wacholtz lost control of the ATV while making a right turn, causing it to overturn. He sustained severe injuries and was airlifted to Aspirus Wausau, where he later passed away. Speed is believed to be a contributing factor, and the Wisconsin DNR is leading the investigation. Sean White reported
A photograph depicting the scene of an ATV accident in Rib Lake, Wisconsin, has been provided. The incident resulted in the unfortunate death of James Wacholtz Jr., a 48-year-old resident of Rib Lake. The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office received an emergency call reporting the accident on Saturday, August 12th, at approximately 12:50 p.m. The incident occurred near 530 Lake Shore Dr. in the Village of Rib Lake, located southwest of Tomahawk.
The individual who made the distress call was part of a group operating UTVs and came across Wacholtz Jr., who was found injured and unresponsive on the road. Initial investigations suggest that Wacholtz Jr. lost control of the ATV while attempting to execute a right turn, resulting in the vehicle overturning. This caused Wacholtz Jr. to be ejected from the ATV. Sadly, he sustained severe injuries as a result of the accident and was subsequently airlifted to Aspirus Wausau. Despite medical efforts, Wacholtz Jr. succumbed to his injuries and passed away at the hospital.
In response to the incident, Taylor County deputies received assistance from the fire and emergency medical services, as well as the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The preliminary findings indicate that speed played a significant role in causing the accident. Consequently, the Wisconsin DNR has taken the lead in conducting a thorough investigation into the incident..
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