One dead, 1 inured following Jo Daviess County crash

Authorities said one person died and another was injured in a crash in Jo Daviess County. 77-year-old William Klaersch of Galena, was pronounced dead at the scene, and 82-year-old Beverly A. Van Dyke-Klaersch of Galena, was transported by ambulance to MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. According to the Jo Daviess County Sheriff’s Department, Klaersch was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Van Dyke-Klaersch. The vehicle was traveling on private property near West Longhollow Road in rural Galena at approximately 2:10 p.m. Tuesday. The vehicle was believed to have been placed in park and both occupants began to exit the vehicle. The vehicle began moving forward toward a steep, downhill slope. Van Dyke-Klaersch got back into the driver’s seat and tried to stop the vehicle but was eventually thrown from the vehicle as it descended the slope. Klaersch was unable to exit the vehicle, which struck several trees before coming to rest in a steep ravine. Authorities continue to investigate the crash.