Minivan driver in Verona crash suspected of heroin use

The driver of a minivan in a minivan versus farm tractor crash on U.S. Highway 18/151 in Dane County Wednesday evening is suspected of using heroin before the crash, according to the Dane County Sheriff's Office.

A 40-year-old man from Evansville was traveling eastbound in a Kia minivan near Spring Rose Road in the Town of Verona when he collided with the back of an eastbound New Holland tractor driven by a 55-year-old man from Verona. Dane County Sheriff deputies and Verona and Mount Horeb police responded to the crash at 4:20 p.m. Wednesday and eastbound U.S. Highway 18/151 was closed for over four hours.

A 36-year-old woman from Belleville, who was a passenger in the minivan, was unresponsive when rescue personnel responded to the scene. The woman regained consciousness and was transported by Med Flight to UW Hospital. She is being treated for non-life threatening, but significant injuries. The tractor driver was treated for a minor cut by emergency medical personnel at the scene.

The minivan driver was also injured and taken to UW Hospital where he is being treated for minor injuries. The man admitted to using heroin prior to the crash and deputies found drug paraphernalia inside the minivan.

The minivan driver will face criminal charges related to the crash once he is released from the hospital.

Deputies are determining whether seatbelts were used at the time of the crash. Police said information from witnesses indicate the tractor complied with required safety equipment.

The crash is still being investigated.