Fatal accident temporarily closes US 51

HURLEY — A fatal car accident temporarily closed a section of U.S. 51 in northern Iron County Thursday evening.

The Iron County Sheriff’s Office received a call about the three-vehicle crash on U.S. 51 near Spruce Road just south of Hurley at approximately 5:01 p.m., Sheriff Paul Samardich told the Daily Globe.

Samardich said Friday morning the crash resulted in one fatality. The person was initially transported by ambulance to Aspirus Ironwood Hospital, and later flown to Aspirus Hospital in Wausau, where she died as a result of her injuries. Samardich later identified the victim as Judith K. Doda, 62, of Hurley.

According to the initial investigation, it appears a southbound vehicle was stopped on the highway as it attempted to turn onto Spruce Road when it was struck from behind, according to a sheriff’s department press release. The impact of the collision pushed the stopped vehicle into the oncoming path of a truck traveling north, according to the release, resulting in a second crash.

Samardich said the Wisconsin State Patrol was contacted for their accident reconstruction team, which is assisting in the investigation.

Police vehicles, including some from the neighboring Ironwood Public Safety Department were used to block traffic from the section of highway around the crash site until Iron County Highway Department crews were able to set up road closure signs.

Drivers were forced to detour around the accident via County C, Wisconsin 77 and Silver Street during the closure.

U.S. 51 reopened to traffic at approximately 1 a.m. Friday, according to a post on the news release.