Five injured, one dead in separate weekend crashes in Columbia County

Columbia County authorities are investigating two serious crashes over the weekend there.

On Friday, June 13, 2025, shortly after 9:30pm, the Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call of a motorcycle in the ditch on County Highway D near County Highway DG, just outside the Village of Fall River. The person making that call told dispatch that the driver of the motorcycle wasn’t moving.

Officers responding arrived a short time later and immediately began life saving measures however, the 50-year-old man from Fall River was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Initial investigation shows that the motorcycle was westbound on D. As the driver approached DG, he lost control and entered the north ditch. The driver was ejected from the motorcycle and the motorcycle and driver came to rest in a drainage ditch along the side of a farm field.

Speed and alcohol appear to be factors in the crash.

Then On Saturday, at about 8:00 pm, the Sheriff’s Office received multiple 911 calls about a 2-vehicle crash on Hwy 33 just east of Portage.

Deputies arrived at the scene to find two people ejected from one of the vehicles, with one trapped under one of the vehicles.

Several citizens and an off-duty Sheriff’s Office employee were at the scene and attempting to free that person from under the vehicle. Along with the help of the citizens, a floor jack was used to lift the vehicle enough to free the trapped driver.

In total, Five ambulances responded to the scene and transported those involved to the hospital.

At this time, none of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.