Executive Summary
- A man in his 40s died in a single-vehicle crash and subsequent fire on Madison’s east side.
- The incident occurred after the driver fled from an attempted traffic stop initiated by a Dane County deputy, according to police.
- Authorities confirmed the deputy did not pursue the vehicle after it sped away from the stop.
- Witnesses reported the driver was speeding before losing control, leaving the roadway, and ultimately crashing into a tree.
A man in his 40s died in a fiery, single-vehicle crash on Madison’s east side after fleeing an attempted traffic stop earlier this week, authorities reported. The Madison Police Department (MPD) stated that the fatal incident occurred after a Dane County Sheriff’s Office deputy tried to pull the driver over, though the deputy did not pursue the vehicle when it sped away.
According to a statement from the MPD on Wednesday, the driver fled the traffic stop for reasons that remain unclear. Officials have not disclosed the location or the initial cause for the attempted stop. The Dane County Sheriff’s Office confirmed their deputy did not engage in a chase.
The incident report indicates that witnesses saw the vehicle speeding northbound on South Stoughton Road. The driver reportedly lost control, drove into a ditch on the median side, and then re-emerged, crossing all northbound lanes before crashing into a tree. The impact caused the vehicle to catch fire.
MPD units responded to the scene on the frontage road of southbound Highway 51 near Buckeye Road just before 11:45 a.m. Officers attempted to extinguish the flames until the Madison Fire Department arrived. Firefighters successfully pulled the man from the wreckage but determined he was already deceased. The investigation into the deadly crash is ongoing.