On Monday, July 29, 2019, at approximately 3:27 p.m., the Green County Sheriff’s Office received multiple 911 calls reporting a multiple vehicle crash with injuries that reportedly occurred on State Highway 69 south of County Trunk FF, approximately three miles north of the City of Monroe. Deputies, along with Monroe Fire and Green County EMS personnel were dispatched to the scene.

A preliminary investigation revealed that a Ford pickup truck operated by Shane H. Olson, 49, rural Monroe, was stopped on STH 69 facing northbound, waiting to turn left into a private driveway. A second northbound pickup truck, operated by Gary L. Grunder, 69, Monticello, reportedly collided with the rear of the Olson truck, forcing the truck into the southbound lane of traffic where it collided with a southbound motorcycle, occupied by two adults from Illinois that were traveling with two other motorcycles. The collision forced the motorcycle off of the highway into the ditch, ejecting both occupants.

Both of the motorcycle riders were pronounced deceased at the scene by the Green County Coroner. It appeared that the passenger was wearing a helmet and the driver, eye protection. The motorcycle briefly caught on fire due to leaking gasoline, which was extinguished by a witness to the crash.

Shane Olson, who was wearing a safety belt, reported no injuries. His passengers, three juveniles ages 7, 5 and 3, all were wearing restraints and reported no injuries.

Gary Grunder was transported to The Monroe Clinic Hospital by Green County EMS for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash.

All three vehicles sustained extensive damage. The Green County Highway Department supplied barricades to detour traffic around the crash scene while the Wisconsin State Patrol reconstructed the crash and STH 69 was closed for several hours until the on-scene investigation was completed.

Gene W. Carroll, 71, and Cynthia L. Carroll, 72, of Freeport IL were killed in the crash.

The victims in this crash were Green County’s second and third traffic fatalities of 2019.

Jeff Skatrud, Green County Sheriff