WHO Involved: Benjamin Peterson, 29, of Mazomanie, WI
WHERE Incident Happened: State Highway 60 at County Highway TB
What happened: On 5-17-24 at approximately 7:18pm, a traffic stop was attempted by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office on a motorcycle being operated on State Hwy 60. The driver, later identified as 29 year old Benjamin Peterson, began fleeing the deputy while heading eastbound at a high rate of speed. Deputies decided to terminate the pursuit in the interest of public safety, near Schmidt Ln. after Peterson passed a car in a no passing zone towards on coming traffic. After deputies deactivated their emergency lights and siren, they checked the area and were unable to locate Peterson or his motorcycle. A short time later, Richland County Dispatch received a 911 call about a possible motorcycle crash on STH 60, near CTH TB. Deputies arrived on scene and provided medical care with the assist of bystanders until EMS arrived. Lone Rock EMS began medical care and transported Peterson to Gotham where UW Medflight was waiting. Peterson was identified as the suspect involved in the pursuit and was showing signs of impairment during his contact with law enforcement. The motorcycle was later located several hundred feet in the woods , not visible from the road. The Richland County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on the scene by Lone Rock Fire, Muscoda Fire, UW Medflight, and the Richland Center Police Department. The UW Police Department assisted deputies with the OWI investigation.
Other Agencies Involved: Richland Center Police Department, Lone Rock Fire Department, Lone Rock EMS, Muscoda Fire Department, UW Medflight, UW Police Department
ARREST or CHARGES: Flee/Elude Law Enforcement, Felony Bail Jumping, OWI, and 2nd Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety