Steven Hall, John Olson – The Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified several individuals who died in separate crashes over the past few weeks. These tragic incidents have claimed the lives of four people, with investigations still ongoing.
Two of the fatal crashes occurred on January 10. The first involved 85-year-old John Olson from Pardeeville, who succumbed to his injuries following a crash reported just before 7 a.m. on US Highway 51 northbound in Windsor. The medical examiner confirmed that Olson’s death resulted from the injuries he sustained in the collision.
The second incident on January 10 happened around 11:30 p.m. on North Union Road in the Town of Rutland. Steven Hall, a 25-year-old from Stoughton, also died from injuries related to the crash. A forensic examination was completed on January 13, and further testing is being conducted to gather more details about the accident.
Another deadly crash took place on December 19, 2024, at the intersection of Wisconsin Highway 19 and Barman Road in the Town of Springfield. The medical examiner identified the victim as James Pingel Jr., a 55-year-old Stoughton resident. Pingel was pronounced dead at the scene due to the injuries he sustained in the crash.
The fourth fatality involved a pedestrian, Samuel Lytle, a 23-year-old Madison resident, who was struck by a vehicle on December 9, 2024. The incident occurred around 7 p.m. near US Highway 12 westbound at Todd Drive in Madison. Lytle was pronounced dead at the scene, and the cause and manner of his death are still under investigation.
The Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office, along with local authorities, continues to investigate all four crashes to understand the circumstances that led to these fatalities. As the community mourns these losses, officials are working diligently to determine the exact causes of these tragic events.