Jennifer Lemmer Killed in Franzen Car Accident
The Iola resident died following a two-vehicle collision at a rural Marathon County intersection
Jennifer Lemmer, 53, of Iola, was killed in a two-vehicle crash at the corner of County Highway C and County Highway I in Franzen on Aug. 28, according to the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies and rescue crews arrived at the scene around 12:30 p.m. to find one driver trapped inside the wreckage. First responders extricated Lemmer and initiated life-saving measures, but she was pronounced dead before she could be transported. The driver of the second vehicle, a 58-year-old man, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Paramedics took him to a local hospital for treatment.
The crash remains under investigation by the Sheriff's Office.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the state averages more than 500 traffic deaths annually. Intersection collisions account for a significant share of serious crashes.
What do we know about the investigation progress?
Authorities have not yet released the cause of the collision or determined which driver had the right of way at the rural intersection. Investigators will likely examine skid marks, vehicle damage profiles, and any available event data recorders to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the fatal impact.
How common are fatal intersection crashes in Marathon County?
Rural crossroads often present unique hazards due to higher travel speeds and limited sightlines. In car accidents such as this, traffic safety analysts note that intersection geometry and driver expectation play critical roles in collision severity.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "Intersections cause so much trouble because drivers are relying on one another to follow the signal or take a proper turn at exactly the right moment. One bad judgment call at the wrong second turns deadly fast."
"Legal counsel starts pulling traffic camera footage, signal timing records, and witness statements to piece together exactly what unfolded on the road," added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
While the exact circumstances of this crash are still being reviewed, families who lose a loved one in these sudden collisions are often left navigating complex insurance and investigative processes while grieving.
Wisconsin wrongful death statute
Under Wis. Stat. § 895.04, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. Wisconsin applies modified comparative fault (51% bar). The statute of limitations is 3 years.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of society and companionship, funeral expenses, and the estate's losses.
"Event data recorders housed within vehicle modules record critical speed and braking inputs. Downloading crash data supplies objective evidence regarding throttle position, seatbelt usage, and steering angles prior to impact," said Stefano Formica, of counsel at Bond Legal.
Formica, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News, noted, "Serving as an advocate, an attorney coordinates certified technician extractions to ensure complete digital evidence preservation."