REGIONAL BRIEFING
70-year-old driver killed when train crashes into vehicle
A 70-year-old driver is dead after an Amtrak train struck a vehicle Monday at a railroad crossing in Brookfield.
The crash occurred about 4:15 p.m. at the North Brookfield Road and River Road crossing, according to the City of Brookfield Police Department.
The driver died in the crash, according to police. The name of the driver is being withheld pending notification of the family. There is no word on any injuries of anyone on the Amtrak train.
First pediatric death from influenza reported in state
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services on Monday reported the first pediatric death from influenza in the state this season, according to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Wauwatosa.
No further information was immediately released about the death, but the hospital said the death underscores the importance of everyone getting the flu vaccine to prevent others from being stricken.
“This sad news proves how serious influenza can be and how important it is to take measures to protect our children,” said Dr. Lyn Ranta, director of physician affairs at the hospital.
A 2017 study showed that flu vaccination can significantly reduce a child’s risk of dying from the flu. Getting vaccinated decreases the chance of getting sick and reduces the severity of illness if one still gets sick, the release said.
Getting vaccinated yourself also helps protect people around you, including those who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness, such as babies and young children, older people and people with certain chronic health conditions.
“I cannot stress enough the importance of an annual flu vaccination for all children. If your child hasn’t gotten theirs yet this season, it’s not too late to help protect them,” Ranta said.
According to the Department of Health Services, there have been 13 other deaths during the 2018-’19 flu season, with 10 of them being in the 65-and-over age group.
Victim of Mirror Lake semi crash ID’d; second body recovered
A body recovered after a tractor-trailer was found submerged in Mirror Lake was identified Monday as Timothy Green, 39, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, the Wisconsin State Patrol said in a news release.
A second body, that of a female, was recovered in the Sauk County lake Monday and an autopsy was planned Tuesday to identify her, the State Patrol said.
On Sunday morning, a damaged guardrail was discovered on I-90/94 eastbound just north of the Mirror Lake bridge. Upon further investigation, a tractor-trailer was found submerged in the lake.
All eastbound lanes of I-90/94 in the area were closed Sunday morning and afternoon while emergency response crews worked through the day to recover the semi.
Green’s body was found Sunday evening, but recovery operations had to be suspended until Monday because of poor visibility and weather conditions.
Green was the driver of the vehicle, the State Patrol said.
Oconomowoc High School student cited after circulating racial flyer
An Oconomowoc High School student is in trouble after distributing a flyer with a racial slur.
The incident occurred Wednesday, when a student contacted school administrators about a flyer that included the N-word being distributed. It was distributed to about 10 other students.
“The flyer was offensive and inappropriate, and this type of speech and propaganda is not acceptable,” the Oconomowoc Area School District said in a statement.
The student who circulated the flyer was disciplined by the school and referred to the Oconomowoc Police Department. Police cited the student for disorderly conduct.
Massage parlor owner ran prostitution ring, complaint says
NEW BERLIN - The operator of a massage parlor has been charged with keeping a place of prostitution.
Jing Zhang, 56, of Chicago, the operator of Asian Massage and Reflexology, 13827 W. Greenfield Ave., could face a maximum penalty of six years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
An informant identified Zhang as the masseuse who had massaged him inappropriately, according to the complaint.