Fatal Crash in Grant County

A fatal crash occurred on a Grant County Highway Friday morning. At approximately 5:45 a.m., the Grant County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a two-vehicle crash on Highway 35/61 near Kelly Lane in Paris Township. 28 year old Tyler Clauer of rural Potosi, was traveling south on Highway 35/61. Clauer lost control of his vehicle while negotiating a downhill curve to the right. Clauer’s vehicle swerved out of control and crossed into the northbound lanes. The vehicle then struck the guardrail on the east side of the roadway and bounced off, sliding downhill, while sideways, in the northbound lanes. At the same time, 34 year old Daniel Kieler of rural Hazel Green, was traveling north on Highway 35/61.  Kieler’s vehicle struck Clauer’s vehicle on its driver’s side, while it was sliding sideways in the northbound lanes. Kieler was able to get out of his vehicle and was taken to Southwest Health Center in Platteville for non-life threatening injuries. Due to being trapped in the car, the Dickeyville and Potosi JAWS units were able to extricate Clauer from his vehicle. The Dickeyville Rescue squad took Clauer to Mercy Hospital in Dubuque, where he later died from injuries sustained in the crash. Kieler was wearing a safety belt. Clauer was not wearing his safety belt. This crash is still under investigation as speed and weather conditions may be contributing factors. The roadway was wet, and there was near zero visibility fog in the area. The crash resulted in the 3rd fatality in Grant County for 2020.