6-12-2023 DIP News

Grant County Wisconsin

On June 8, 2023, at approximately 1:00 pm, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Hwy 81 and Settlement Rd located in the Township of Cassville.

Erin Ruberg, age 33 from Cassville, traveled southbound on Settlement Rd in her 2014 Toyota Highlander. Ruberg came to a “rolling” stop at the stop sign and then pulled away from the stop sign to continue heading southbound on City Y. At the same time, Gerald Dukett, age 52 from Cassville, traveled eastbound on Hwy 81 in his 2000 GMC Yukon Denali. Ruberg pulled out in front of Dukett’s vehicle and Dukett struck Ruberg’s vehicle on the passenger side. This sent both vehicles crashing into the ditch at the southeast corner of the intersection.

Dukett’s vehicle also rolled onto its passenger side, and Dukett was ejected from his vehicle. Dukett was pronounced dead at the scene. Ruberg sustained minor injuries in the crash. After an investigation and field sobriety tests, Ruberg was determined to be impaired by an intoxicant and arrested for Homicide by Intoxicated Use of a Motor Vehicle. Ruberg was transported to the Grant County Jail, where she is held without bond until she appears in front of a judge.

The Grant County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Cassville Fire Department, Cassville EMS, Cassville Police Department, Grant County Highway Department, Grant County Coroner’s Office, and the Wisconsin State Patrol’s Technical Reconstruction Unit. Bennett’s Towing of Lancaster removed the vehicles. Hwy 81 was closed for approximately five hours while emergency services and investigators worked at the scene.

Persons arrested and/or referred for charges by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law. An arrest only indicates probable cause for formal charges. The names of victims and witnesses to a crime have been withheld, per Wisconsin Statute §950.04.