Peter Weix Obituary, Death – On Friday, January 13, 2023, during the early morning hours, Green County experienced its first fatality on a roadway for the year. According to Green County Sheriff Jeff Skatrud, a three-vehicle collision that occurred on Wisconsin State Highway 69 approximately one tenth of a mile south of Highland Drive and north of the Village of New Glarus resulted in the death of one New Glarus resident and the injury of two other New Glarus residents. A three-vehicle collision that involved injuries was reported to the Green County Sheriff’s Office around 8:10 a.m. via multiple calls to 911.
The incident occurred on Wisconsin State Highway 69 a little more than one mile north of the Village of New Glarus. Deputy sheriffs, New Glarus Emergency Medical Services, New Glarus Fire, Belleville Fire, Green County Emergency Medical Services, Fitch-Rona Emergency Medical Services, and two helicopters from the University of Wisconsin Medical Flight were all sent to the incident.
According to the findings of the preliminary investigation, Peter J. Weix, age 57, of New Glarus was driving a Volkswagen Beetle while traveling north on Wisconsin State Highway 69. He was following a Toyota Rav4 SUV driven by Ruth A. Zuber, age 61, also of New Glarus. The Volkswagen allegedly made a passing motion of the Toyota on the right shoulder, slipped broadside in front of the Zuber car after completing the pass and was struck broadside by the Toyota Rav4. The Volkswagen subsequently entered the path of a southbound Subaru Legacy sedan piloted by Joyce A. Jensen, age 62 of New Glarus, and the resulting collision forced both vehicles to the west shoulder of the highway, while the Toyota came to rest in the northbound lane of Wis. 69.
The Green County Coroner determined that Peter Weix had passed away at the scene of the accident, despite the efforts of the First Responders who were on the scene. Joyce Jensen, who was found to have critical injuries, was airlifted to a hospital in Madison by a Med Flight helicopter, whereas Ruth Zuber did not immediately seek medical treatment after the accident. There was a deployment of the airbags in all three vehicles, and it was believed that all three drivers were wearing their safety belts. It did not appear that the conditions of the road were a factor in what caused the accident.
The Green County Highway Department responded by deploying employees and barricades to the area of the accident in order to redirect traffic while the Wisconsin State Patrol aided by sending a collision reconstruction team to the scene. On Friday, the highway was closed for around six hours before it was opened again in the middle of the afternoon. The mishap, which resulted in the first fatality due to a traffic accident in Green County in 2023, is still being looked into.