La Crosse records highest traffic death toll in 3 years

La Crosse County has recorded its highest traffic death toll in three years, with eight people dying in county accidents during 2021.

That compares to 4 official deaths the previous year.

The last fatal crash in the county happened a week ago, when a car was trapped under a semi trailer on I-90, after rear-ending the rig, near West Salem.

Monroe County reported 10 highway deaths during the year, its highest toll in at least five years.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) said the statewide death toll for 2021 was 594 — one higher than 2020.

The state, however, did have its lowest late-year highway death tolls in several years — 23 in November and 35 for December.

Wisconsin traffic deaths narrowly stayed below the 600 mark for another year.

The statewide highway toll was under 500 in 2014, but has been closer to 600 most years since then.

The state record for traffic deaths was 1,168 — set 50 years ago, in 1972, before Washington set a nationwide speed limit of 55 mph which lasted for several years.