Medford Man Killed in Street Racing Incident in Taylor County

Thursday, July 13th, 2023 -- 1:00 PM

(Karen Madden, Marshfield News Herald) A 21-year-old Medford man is dead after a Tuesday crash.

According to Karen Madden at the Marshfield News Herald, at 6:57 p.m. Tuesday, a caller reported a crash on Harper Drive in the Taylor County town of Rib Lake, according to the Taylor County Sheriff's Office. The caller reported two vehicles had been seen racing side-by-side just prior to the crash.

Deputies determined Ethan M. Berry was driving a vehicle that went off the road and down an embankment, according to the Sheriff's Office. Berry died at the scene of the crash. A 22-year-old Medford man who was a passenger in the vehicle was severely injured. His status was unavailable Wednesday.

The initial investigation into the crash indicates Berry was driving his vehicle at high speeds and racing another vehicle, according to the Sheriff's Office. Berry appears to have passed the vehicle he was racing, but he lost control while going around a curve in the road.

Berry's vehicle hit several trees and fell down an embankment before stopping. Several arrests were made at the scene, according to the Sheriff's Office, but the investigation is ongoing and more information was not being released Wednesday morning.

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