Motorist Dies In Road Washout; Bridge Closed

Authorities report a motorist is dead, after crashing into a washed-out portion of highway between Lansing and DeSoto, Wisconsin along the Mississippi River.

At about 4:30am today (May 30) the Crawford County Wisconsin Sheriff was contacted by a driver who had been following another vehicle, when that other vehicle disappeared into a disintegrating portion of Highway 82, which is the approach to the Mississippi River Bridge at Lansing, but on the Wisconsin side.

The hole was estimated to be 8 to 10 feet deep on the eastbound approach over Henderson Slough. The bridge itself is intact. However, because of the disintegration of the highway, the bridge in both directions is closed to traffic.

The vehicle that fell into the washed-out portion of the road was recovered about 4 hours later, around 8:30am. The driver, whose name has not been released, was pronounced dead.

The Mississippi River has been at or near flood stage for several days.

Authorities say the bridge linking Lansing, Iowa with DeSoto, Wisconsin, will likely be closed for the rest of the week.