Toppled Stop Sign 'Not A Factor' In Crash That Killed 3: Sheriff

ST. CROIS COUNTY, WI — Authorities in St. Croix County are now reporting that a knocked-over stop sign was not a factor in a crash that killed three people over the weekend.

According to the St. Croix County Sheriff's office, deputies were called to Highway 64 and Highway T in the town of Stanton for a crash between a motorcycle and a car on Friday at just after 7 p.m. Authorities say the driver of a 2009 Harley Davidson motorcycle was heading west on Highway 64 and collided with a 2008 Lincoln sedan heading north on Highway T.

Authorities said that three people died as a result of the crash - two in the Lincoln and a third on the Harley Davidson motorcycle. On Saturday, authorities identified the motorcycle driver as Cody Lynn Cook-Ternurne, 34, of Somerset. The occupants of the Lincoln were identified as Thomas H. Plasch, 55, of Oakdale, MN and Miriam R. Espinosa, 46, also of Oakdale.

Investigators say they received a call that a stop sign at the intersection of Highways 64 and T had been knocked down, and that the call came just moments before the crash. On Monday, St. Croix Sheriff's department said the stop sign was not a factor in the crash.

"While the stop sign was knocked down shortly before this crash occurred, it is not a factor in the crash," authorities said Monday.

What We've Learned

St. Croix County sheriff's officials on Monday reported speaking with several witnesses, who told investigators they saw the Lincoln heading north on Highway T, coming to a stop at the intersection with Highway 64 even though the stop sign had been knocked down.

"Witnesses confirmed that [the Lincoln] was stopped, even though the stop sign was down, as they were waiting for other traffic to clear the intersection" investigators said Monday.

According to information released Monday morning by the St. Croix County Sheriff's office, about 10 minutes before the crash, authorities received a complaint that a motorcycle driver matching Cook-Terhurne's description was speeding east on Highway 64, past other drivers on the right shoulder of the road.

Authorities say they're continuing to investigate the crash and its causes.