Weekend motorcycle accident in Wisconsin claims life of Waukon man

Saturday, September 19 at approximately 4:29 p.m. the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department in Wisconsin was notified of a motorcycle accident with injuries on State Hwy. 35 at its intersection with Old Hwy. 35 (South Mill Park Drive) in Freeman Township, about a quarter-mile south of De Soto, WI.

According to a report issued by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department, Richard A. Baumgartner, age 62, of Waukon was traveling southbound on Old Hwy. 35 operating a 2011 Harley Davidson Trike motorcycle and was approaching the intersection with State Hwy. 35. The Baumgartner cycle failed to get stopped at the stop sign, struck the curb/left shoulder of the highway, rolled twice and ejected Baumgartner from the cycle onto the southbound lane of State Hwy. 35. The motorcycle came to rest on the westside shoulder of State Hwy. 35.

The report states that lifesaving measures were attempted at the scene, but because of Baumgartner’s injuries he was pronounced deceased without transport to the hospital. Baumgartner did not have a helmet on at the time of the accident, according to the report. A full obituary for Richard “Rick” Baumgartner appears on Page 3 in this week’s edition of The Standard.

The accident remains under investigation. Assisting at the scene were the DeSoto Fire Department, DeSoto First Responders, Ferryville First Responders, Tri-State Ambulance, Gundersen Air, Wisconsin State Patrol, Bob’s Towing of Prairie Du Chien, WI, as well as a few citizens that stopped to assist with first aid or CPR.