Hausner Farms semi rolls outside Baraboo

Photo by Brian D. Bridgeford / Capital Newspapers

Wisconsin State Patrol Inspector Toni Morrow examines the undercarriage of a semi that lost control and rolled onto its side while traveling west on Highway 136 at Shales Corners near North Freedom on Tuesday morning. The driver, rural Sauk City resident Donald F. Goldade, 61, was not seriously hurt.

By Brian D. Bridgeford, Capital Newspapers

TOWN OF EXCELSIOR — A section of State Highway 136 between Baraboo and Rock Springs was shut down for more than two hours Tuesday after a semi lost control and rolled on its side, spilling its load of grain along a hillside.

About 8:30 a.m. Nov. 11 sheriff's deputies and emergency responders from North Freedom were called after a westbound semi-trailer truck loaded with corn rolled on its side on Highway 136 at the curve near North Freedom called Shales Corners, said Lt. Jeff Spencer of the Sauk County Sheriff's Department.

"He was driving and he just lost control in the corner, causing the vehicle to overturn," he said. "Speed would be a factor."

The out-of-control semi left gouges in the pavement and a trail of broken glass and yellow corn grains scattered along the highway. Most of the truck's load spilled down a hillside and the back of the truck hung over the edge, as well.

Wisconsin State Patrol Inspector Toni Morrow was called to the scene and examined the truck's undercarriage looking for mechanical problems that might have contributed to the crash. The vehicle had been carrying between 75,000 and 80,000 pounds of grain when it spilled, she said.

The driver of the vehicle, identified by the Sheriff's Department as Donald F. Goldade, 61, of rural Sauk City, was conscious and talking to investigators, but he suffered a blow to the head, she said.

Two heavy tow trucks from Blystone Towing of Portage were brought in to right the semi and trailer. A crew from the Sauk County Highway Department assisted with clean-up.

Goldade was issued a citation for failure to control his vehicle, according to a press release from Sauk County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Chip Meister. The accident remains under investigation by the Sauk County Sheriff's Department and Wisconsin State Patrol.