One driver cited for following too closely

City Times Staff

The Portage Co. Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday reported one woman is dead following a two-vehicle crash on Highway 54 in the Town of Plover. 

According to a news release from Lt. Ben Beaudoin, county dispatchers received the 911 call shortly before 3:45 PM.

Early investigation indicates a westbound vehicle, driven by a 56 year-old Mary K. Knuth of Wisconsin Rapids, was stopped, or nearly stopped, in the left lane as school children were unloading from a bus in the right lane.

Knuth was driving a 2002 Chevrolet passenger car when she was rear-ended by 25 year-old Allan R. Richtmyre, also of Wisconsin Rapids.

Knuth had to be extricated from her vehicle by rescue crews. She was transported to Saint Michael’s Hospital in Stevens Point, where she was pronounced dead. Richtmyre was not injured, police said, but was issued a traffic citation for following too closely.

Whether Richtmyre would face additional charges was not immediately known.

The left lane of westbound Highway 54 was closed for approximately two and a half hours while crews conducted their investigation and cleared the scene.

The crash remains under investigation by the Portage County Sheriff’s Office Technical Crash Investigation Team.

The Plover Fire Department, Plover Police Department, Portage County Ambulance Service, Plover EMS, Portage County Traffic Incident Management Team and the Portage County Coroner’s Office all assisted.