Wisconsin: La Crosse man found guilty in tow truck driver’s death
A La Crosse man was found guilty Friday of negligent homicide in the roadside death of a tow truck operator in Jackson County last fall. A jury deliberated for just over two hours before finding Steven E. Dolan, 51, guilty in 38-year-old Nathan Walsh’s death along Interstate 94 near Osseo in October 2014. The case centered on whether the incident involved criminal negligence or was an accident.
“We respect the jury’s verdict, and Mr. Dolan and his family’s hearts and prayers go out to Mr. Walsh’s family for this accident,” said defense attorney Eric Sheets after the verdict was delivered.
“(Dolan) has been grief-stricken about this for quite some time.”
Jackson County District Attorney Gerald Fox, who prosecuted the case, said he expects to soon release a statement on the verdict.
Dolan was westbound in a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado around 8:25 a.m. Oct. 20, 2014, when the truck struck Walsh and sideswiped his tow truck while he loaded a disabled car onto a flatbed, according to the State Patrol.
Dolan stated he did not see the tow truck while changing lanes and looking in a mirror. Information from the Silverado’s data recorder suggested the vehicle was traveling just above the 65 mph speed limit when he crossed the fog line and struck the tow truck and Walsh, who was wearing reflective gear and had the wrecker’s warning lights activated at the time, according to the criminal complaint.
The prosecution called several witnesses during the two-day trial, including Trooper Derrek Hanson, whose investigation estimated Dolan was traveling 69 mph and had about 38 seconds to perceive the upcoming disabled vehicle and tow truck and decide how to react.
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