Accident in rural Clark County claims 9 lives

Nine people are dead after they were involved in a crash on State Highway 95 by County Highway J in the town of Dewhurst, near Hatfield.

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call of the crash at about 7:53 a.m. on Friday, March 8. When deputies arrived on scene, they saw a semi-tractor in the north ditch and its trailer lying on its side behind it east of the intersection of County Highway J facing west. There was also a van lying on its driver’s side east of the intersection, facing in a northeast direction in the westbound lane, that was on fire.

It’s believed the semi-tractor was eastbound on State Highway 95 and the van was northbound on County Highway J. The van entered the intersection and was struck by the semi on its driver’s side.

The semi driver was ejected from the semi when it entered the north ditch and struck a driveway leading to a wooded area. The trailer, which was about one-quarter full of milk, spun clockwise and came to rest on its side behind the cab of the semi. The semi driver, Daniel G. Liddicoat, 51, of Rewey (a small village near Platteville), was pronounced dead at the scene by Clark County Coroner Clarissa Rochester.

After being struck by the semi, the van tipped onto its side, skidded east on the highway and started on fire with two occupants inside. The only survivor, a 2-year-old child, was transported to the Marshfield Medical Center and was released to family members on March 11.

There were a total of nine people in the van at the time of the crash, seven of whom were ejected, including the only survivor.

Of the nine people in the van, the following eight people, all from Virginia, died at the scene: James K. McCoy (driver), 46; Linda Byler, 44; Lydia Byler, 24; Orla Schrock, 24; Ellen Schrock, 23; Delila Schrock, 21; Suzanna Hertzler, 18; and a 6-month-old child.

The Merrillan First Responders and Fire Department, Black River Falls Ambulance, Hatfield Fire Department and First Responders, Neillsville Area Ambulance and Fire Department, and Marshfield Fire Department and Ambulance Service all responded to the scene, with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, Clark County Emergency Management and Clark County Coroner’s Office.

Clark County Emergency Management issued an alert around 9:20 a.m. Friday that the intersection was closed due to a crash and traffic was being rerouted. The intersection remained closed into the afternoon.

This was the first fatal accident in 2024 for Clark County.

Shown are the charred remains of the passenger van that collided with a semi truck at the intersection of State Highway 95 and County Highway J in southwestern Clark County Friday morning.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO