Stanley Man Found Dead in Vehicle in the Chippewa River

Tuesday, June 24th, 2025 -- 1:00 PM

(WEAU Staff, WEAU) A man is dead after a truck was found upside down in the Chippewa River, according to WEAU staff.

According to a press release from the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, on Sunday, June 22, 2025, at around 4:15 p.m., authorities received a report that there was a truck in the Chippewa River that was upside down. Crews arrived to find a man inside the truck dead. The man was identified as 71-year-old Thomas Wadzinski of Stanley, Wis.

According to the press release, it appears the truck was eastbound, left the roadway on County Highway D near Tower Road and entered the Chippewa River without breaking or using any evasive steering.

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