Name of Clark County Highway Worker Struck by Vehicle Released

Tuesday, August 10th, 2021 -- 11:29 AM

The Clark County Sheriff’s Department has released the name of the highway worker struck by a driver this past weekend.

Clark County authorities are investigating the one-vehicle crash that took the life of Clark County highway worker, 57-year-old Russell Opelt. On August 8th, at about 1:18 AM, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call of an accident on CTH G by Mann Road in the Township of Hendren.

The initial investigation indicates that at about 12:00 AM, two Clark County Highway Workers were sent to a tree that was across CTH G by Mann Road. They arrived there at about 1 AM and started to remove the tree.

At about 1:18 AM, one of the workers, 60-year-old David Murphy, called 911 and said that a vehicle struck him. When deputies arrived on scene, they discovered that a vehicle was traveling south on CTH G and struck the workers and tree.

Murphy was transported to the hospital where he is being treated for his injuries. Opelt died at the scene of the crash. The operator of the vehicle, 28-year-old Cory D. Neumueller, was arrested for Causing Injury and Homicide by Intoxicated use of a vehicle and is currently in the Clark County Jail awaiting his initial appearance.

Speed and vehicle operator impairment appear to be factors in the accident. The Greenwood Area Ambulance and Fire Department, the Wisconsin State Patrol and the Clark County Sheriff and Coroner’s Office responded to the scene. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office and Clark County Coroner Richard Schleifer is continuing the investigation into the crash with members of the State Patrol.

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