January 27, 2024

On January 25th at approximately 7:07 AM, the Lancaster Sheriff’s Office was notified of a two-vehicle collision involving entrapment and injuries at the intersection of Stage Road and Aupperle Road in South Lancaster Township.

The initial investigation revealed that Lois Fernette, aged 61 of Prairie du Chien, was operating a 2017 Jeep Cherokee eastbound on Aupperle Road. Andrea Krogman, aged 36 of Prairie du Chien, was a front-seat passenger in Fernette’s vehicle.

Jeffrey Reuter, aged 67 of Lancaster, was operating a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado towing an empty utility trailer southbound on Stage Road. Fernette, unfamiliar with the road, recognized too late that she was approaching a stop sign. Her late braking attempt was insufficient to prevent her from colliding with the stop sign at the intersection. Fernette’s Jeep was directly struck by the front of Reuter’s Silverado, causing both vehicles to veer off the roadway and into the ditch on the southeast corner of the intersection.

Both vehicles traversed a barbed wire fence and came to rest in a field. Airbags were deployed in both vehicles. Fernette was trapped in her vehicle and required rescue. Fernette and Krogman were subsequently transported via ambulance to Grant Regional Health Center. Fernette sustained serious, but non-life-threatening injuries, while Krogman sustained minor injuries. Reuter remained uninjured and declined medical attention after being evaluated at the scene.

Both the Silverado and Jeep sustained substantial damage as a result of the collision. Fernette was issued a citation for Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign. The Lancaster Fire Department, Lancaster EMS, the Lancaster Police Department, and Arrow Towing provided assistance at the scene.