Seven injured in three-vehicle crash on Hwy. 51 at County Highway K

Seven people were injured following a three-vehicle crash at the intersection of U.S. Highway 51 and County Highway K on Sunday afternoon.

According to the state accident report filed by the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, Cheyenne Stoflet, 24, was driving northbound in a 2018 GMC Yukon and told sheriff’s deputies a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox driven by John Holbach, 54, Mosinee, had stopped quickly in front of her causing her vehicle to collide with the Holbach vehicle. 

The 2019 Ford F-150 pickup truck involved in a three-vehicle crash at the intersection of U.S Highway 51 and County Highway K on Sunday, Sept. 1. The vehicle’s driver escaped serious injury.
(Contributed photograph)

Stoflet said she did see the left-turn signal activated on the Equinox just prior to the collision. 

When Holbach’s vehicle was struck by the Yukon, it went into the southbound lane of traffic where it struck a 2019 Ford F-150 pickup truck, driven by Theodore Ritcher, 60, Grayslake, Ill. 

Ritcher, who’s truck ended up upside down in the west ditch, told deputies he didn’t see the initial collision but did see the Holbach vehicle come into the southbound lane. 

Holbach told deputies he was intending to make a left turn onto Swamp Lake Road when Stoflet’s Yukon struck his Equinox, which was corroborated by a witness at the scene as well as footage from a camera at the convenience store on the northeast corner of the intersection. 

Stoflet, who was cited for inattentive driving and failure to keep her vehicle under control, was taken by ambulance to Aspirus Rhinelander for her injuries. 

Ritcher escaped injury in the rollover of his F-150. 

John Holbach also escaped serious injury but the four passengers in the Equinox were injured; Sheila Holbach, 55, Mosinee, was taken by medical helicopter to Aspirus Wausau. 

One other person was taken to Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff and two were taken to Ministry Sacred Heart Hospital in Rhinelander. 

Brian Jopek may be reached via email at [email protected].