Crashes remind drivers to slow down in snow

BROWN COUNTY - Winter Storm Alan has come and gone, but left behind for all of us some important reminders. Number one: Slow down when you're driving.

Dozens of vehicles ended up in ditches Sunday, including on I-43 just south of Denmark.

That crash involved a Brown County sheriff's deputy and a 16-year-old driver.

As Winter Storm Alan unleashed its snow, sheriff's deputies in Brown County responded to crashes.

Including 24-year veteran Jim Drootsan, who drove a marked pick-up truck.

“He stopped the squad on the shoulder with the lights activated and was out of the squad running toward the other car in the ditch to see how everything was there when another vehicle lost control on the highway and hit the rear of that squad,” said Captain Randy Schultz of the Brown County Sheriff’s Department.

Schultz says Deputy Drootsan was lucky not to be in this truck when the car hit.

"This was the initial first officer who got to the scene so no team had been established yet. It was just one squad at the time. It was a tough thing to do,” said Schultz.

But Schultz says the 16-year-old girl driving the smaller car was even luckier. She had to be cut from the vehicle, but is in stable condition.

“We were very, very concerned. There were several deputies doing some praying after that crash. That little one... that car took quite a hit,” said Schultz.

Schultz says Deputy Drootsan was too shaken up to talk about the crash on camera. He says many of his deputies felt the impact of this crash close to home.

"I had found out about it by phone. It wasn't half an hour before that I'd had an argument with my own 17-year-old daughter about wanting to drive somewhere. I drew a line in the sand with her. It's a scary thing,” he said.

Schultz says these crashes can be prevented by simply slowing down, or staying home when it's snowing.

Deputies say they are still looking into whether they will recommend charges against the 16-year-old driver. However, they believe she was going too fast for conditions.