Dodge County officials deal with pursuit and fatal crash

Just after midnight last night, the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office was involved in a traffic pursuit of a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed through the Village of Clyman on County Highway J.

The vehicle went east to County DJ and north to the city of Juneau. Speeds during the pursuit reached 100 mph.

Tire deflation devices were utilized, and the vehicle came to a stop on State Highway 26 near County S just west of the City of Juneau. The driver, 39-year-old Brian Paluch of Madison, was arrested for fleeing an officer, possession of drug paraphernalia, a warrant, and a probation violation. He was also issued numerous traffic citations and booked into the Dodge County jail. According to court records, Paluch has dozens of convictions on his record including drugs and eluding, dating all the way back to 2001.

Also in Dodge County, Sheriff’s Office officials are investigating a fatal crash that occurred yesterday near Beaver Dam. Authorities say it happened at about 2:20 p.m. on County Highway S at the intersection of County Highway G when a vehicle driven by a 68-year-old woman from Alma, Wis., was traveling east on County Highway S and failed to stop at the stop sign at County Highway G, driving into the path of a vehicle driven by a 35-year-old female from Watertown.

The vehicle that ran the stop sign had three occupants. The driver was flown from the scene by helicopter to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A 69-year-old female passenger was transported from the scene to the hospital by helicopter and later died. The third occupant, a 66-year-old female from Minnesota, was transported to the hospital with minor injuries and was treated and released.

The driver of the striking vehicle was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. There were five children in her car ranging in age from 2-13 who were also transported to the hospital as a precaution. All were treated and released.