Amery Man Killed Friday in Car-Truck Crash

The scene looking north of a fatal accident north of Baldwin on USH 63 is pictured above. The semi-truck with a propane tank was north bound when it struck a southbound 1999 Olds Alero that drifted over the center line, according to the St. Croix County Sheriff's Department. The two
vehicles crashed head-on. The semi-tanker ended up partly in the west ditch, at the intersection with Spruce Road. A large tow truck was necessary to pull the semi truck out of the ditch. A United Fire and Rescue truck stood by while the operation took place.

A man from Amery headed to work in Baldwin was killed north of Baldwin on USH 63 early Friday morning, January 25, when his car collided with a semi-truck with a full load of propane.

According to the St. Croix County Sheriff's Department, Paul Thiel, 46, of rural Amery was driving a 1999 Olds Alero southbound on USH 63 when his car drifted left over the center line into the northbound lane of traffic. It collided with the semi-truck driven by Gary Hutter, 48, of Maiden Rock. The accident took place just north of 110th Avenue in the Town of Baldwin. The semi-truck came to rest in the west ditch of 63 at its intersection with Spruce Road.

Thiel was transported to Baldwin Area Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Hutter was treated and released at Baldwin Area Medical Center.

Removing the semi-truck with the load of propane proved to be a difficult and time-consuming chore. While that was being accomplished, traffic was detoured on Spruce Drive and 210th Avenue. The truck was finally removed from the scene about 11:00 a.m. Staying on the scene during the removal of the truck were personnel from the Wisconsin State Patrol, St. Croix County Sheriff's Department, United Fire and Rescue as well as the St. Croix County Highway Department who helped set up and man the detour.

According to emergency workers on the scene, the semi-truck's tank contained about 9,100 gallons of propane.

Thiel was the first traffic fatality of 2008 in St. Croix County. The Sheriff's Department release said the accident remains under investigation by the State Patrol and Sheriff's Department.