Mary Hall Killed in Town of Plover Car Accident
78-year-old passenger dies days after intersection collision on Highway 54
Mary Hall, 78, was killed in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 54 at County Highway F in the Town of Plover on Friday, according to the Portage County Sheriff's Office.
Paramedics and fire rescue crews arrived at the scene around 3:15 p.m. to find both cars in a ditch northwest of the intersection. First responders requested a medical helicopter to airlift a critically injured passenger to a Wausau hospital. Hall, a passenger in the westbound car, later died from her injuries on Monday.
Investigators determined an eastbound vehicle attempted to turn left onto Pierce Avenue and failed to yield to oncoming traffic. The turning car struck the westbound vehicle.
The driver of that vehicle suffered minor injuries, while the driver and passenger in the eastbound car were not hurt.
The Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the collision. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, 576 people died on the state's roads in 2024, a slight decrease from the previous year.
How common are fatal crashes in Portage County?
Intersection collisions involving a failure to yield represent much of Wisconsin's traffic death. When analyzing car accidents such as this, crash reconstructionists examine vehicle data recorders, skid marks, and sightlines to determine exactly how the right-of-way was violated.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News, said, "Distraction has become one of the most significant contributing factors in fatal right-of-way violations, as drivers dividing attention between roadways and handheld devices frequently fail to recognize stop signs and yield markings."
What is the status of the Highway 54 investigation?
The Portage County Sheriff's Office has not announced any citations as they finalize their report. State data shows that 33,259 people were injured in Wisconsin traffic crashes in 2024, highlighting the ongoing risks at rural intersections.
"In the aftermath of catastrophic crashes, an attorney can pursue cellphone records and nearby surveillance footage while coordinating forensic vehicle inspection, helping surviving families find answers and pursue recovery without shouldering the overwhelming legal and financial demands of sudden, violent loss alone," noted Stefano Formica, who serves as a national legal analyst for Accident News and is of counsel at Bond Legal.
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.