Excessive speed, lack of control cited as causes of fatal crashes in Taylor County

Excessive speed is cited as a cause of a second traffic fatality in Taylor County in less than a week. On Monday, August 23, at approximately 12:40 p.m. the Taylor County Sheriffs Office Dispatch Center received a call reporting a one-vehicle crash near the address of W16912 Pinewood Drive in the Town of Taft. The caller reported it appeared that the vehicle was occupied by one person. Taylor County Deputies, along with Gilman Fire and Ambulance services were dispatched to the scene. Emergency responders found a red GMCJimmy SUV in the north ditch and a lone male occupant unresponsive inside the vehicle. The male driver was still seat belted in the vehicle and was obviously deceased. The driver was identified as 19-year-old Trenton J. Glidden of Gilman. Preliminary investigation indicates the GMC SUV was eastbound on Pinewood Drive when the driver lost control, entered the south ditch, and corrected, where it went back onto the roadway. The vehicle then entered the north ditch where it struck a large tree at the driver side area of the vehicle. According to chief deputy Corey Dassow, based on the preliminary investigation, it appears that failure to have control of the vehicle, inattentive driving and driving too fast for conditions were all factors contributing to the crash. There were no other occupants in the vehicle at the time of the crash. The previous fatal crash occurred on Saturday evening in the town of Grover. According to sheriff Larry Woebbeking, on August 21, at 9:28 p.m. the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office initially received a report of an ATV accident with several people injured on CTH M near Sailor Creek Road in the town of Grover. Taylor County Sheriff’s deputies along with Medford Ambulance, Medford Fire Department, Gilman Ambulance and Aspirus MEDVAC were dispatched to the scene. Once at the scene Sheriff’s deputies found a white Mini Cooper (a small passenger vehicle) laying overturned in the ditch, not an ATV as originally reported. A single male subject was found still in the vehicle unresponsive and two other occupants had already exited the vehicle. CPR was performed on the unresponsive male at the scene and he was transported to Aspirus Hospital Medford. The male was identified as 20 year old Hunter J. Ried of Medford, who ultimately succumbed to his injuries and died. According to Woebbeking, preliminary investigation indicate Ried was a passenger of the vehicle and had been seated in the right rear seat and appears to have had on his seat belt at the time of the accident. The two other occupants, the driver and another passenger who was seated in the right front seat of the vehicle were transported to Aspirus Medford for their injuries and later released. Their names are being withheld at this time pending the investigation. Further, preliminary findings into the cause of the accident indicate the vehicle had been reportedly traveling at 100 mph west bound on CTH M as it approached a curve in the road. Also skid marks at the scene indicate the vehicle had been driving across the center line as it entered the curve. The operator of the vehicle lost control and went off the roadway causing the vehicle to overturn. According to Woebbeking, at this time neither drugs or alcohol are suspected. The main cause of the accident appears to be high speeds and negligent operation of the vehicle. At the completion of the investigation it is expected charges will be requested and forwarded to the Taylor County District Attorney’s Office.