Wrong-way crash in Minong, Wisconsin on northbound on U.S. Highway 53 at mile post 191 in Douglas County

Published by Dunk Law Firm

Published:

Two men died in a two-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 53 at mile post 191 in Douglas County, near Minong, Wisconsin. According to a Wisconsin State Patrol news release, the crash occurred northbound shortly before 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4. The report is dated Nov. 5 and was later updated with the names of the drivers.

The source identifies the drivers as James Paske, 80, of Minong, and Nicholas Groszback, 47, of Hibbing. Both sustained fatal injuries, and the source states they were the only occupants of the vehicles. The names were not included in the original report and were added in the update.

What the source confirms: two vehicles collided on northbound U.S. 53, both drivers died, and the Wisconsin State Patrol is investigating. What remains under investigation: why the vehicles were positioned as they were and what caused the collision. The State Patrol's preliminary evidence from the crash site indicates that one vehicle was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes when it collided with a vehicle traveling northbound. That is an early account, and the source reports no official conclusions about cause or fault.

What Makes This Incident Different

The most significant detail is the preliminary account of the vehicles' directions of travel. Because it comes from early crash-site evidence, it is a starting point rather than a settled finding. The question it raises is how two vehicles traveling in opposite directions came to be in the same northbound lanes. Official State Patrol findings, crash-site documentation and any final crash report would be the most direct sources for answering that question. The source does not confirm that such a report has been issued.

The source also states that the two drivers were the only occupants of the vehicles. That detail narrows the set of people who may have direct knowledge of the vehicles' movements before the collision, which is one reason responding agency records may matter.

Questions Investigators May Examine

Investigators may examine the path each vehicle took before the collision, what the crash-site evidence shows about where the vehicles came to rest, and whether any official findings address how the vehicles ended up in the northbound lanes. The evidence will determine whether the preliminary account holds up. No cause, violation or responsible party has been reported as established.

Evidence That May Need to Be Preserved

  • Any Wisconsin State Patrol crash report or supplemental findings, if one is issued
  • Scene photographs, diagrams and measurements made by investigators, which may document the vehicles' final positions
  • Records from the responding agencies: the Washburn and Douglas County sheriff's offices, Gordon Emergency Medical Services, Wascott Fire and EMS, and Minong Fire
  • Dispatch and 911 records, if they exist and are later made available
  • Any public statements or witness information released about the crash

These categories are listed only because they could exist. This article does not state that any of these records have been created or obtained.

What Families Should Know

General information: when a crash results in a death, families often have questions about official reports, access to records and communications from insurers or other parties. Official records can take time to finalize, so families may find it helpful to keep their own records of who they have spoken with and when. Families should consider speaking with a qualified attorney before signing statements or accepting settlement offers.

The source does not state any charges, legal deadlines or insurance arrangements connected to this crash. Legal deadlines and the types of claims that may be available depend on the facts and on Wisconsin law, and this article does not describe either.

How Dunk Law Firm Can Help

If you are a family member or friend of James Paske or Nicholas Groszback, or you have information about this crash, you may contact Dunk Law Firm to discuss your questions about records, communications with investigators and the steps that may be appropriate for your situation. A consultation is a way to ask those questions before you make decisions about the investigation.

This post is based on publicly available news reports and is provided for general information only. It is not legal advice.