Semi vs Tractor Crash in Grant County

On Friday, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a semi vs tractor crash on Hwy 151 near Maple Ridge Road in the Township of Platteville. 28 year old Brandon Lange of rural Platteville was traveling south on Highway 151 on his John Deere tractor.Lange was traveling on the shoulder and partially in the slow lane due to the size of the implement he was pulling. At the same time, 52 year old Patrick Gude of Omaha, Nebraska was traveling southbound in his employer’s Semi Tractor and trailer. It is unknown exactly how or why Gude failed to see Lange’s tractor but the front passenger side to the semi struck the rear left side of the tractor and rotary hoe. The impact thrust the John Deere tractor and implement into the ditch. Lange sustained minor injuries and was evaluated by Southwest EMS at the scene. The rotary hoe had heavy damage and the tractor sustained minor damage. The tractor was removed from the scene by area farmers with skid steers. When deputies approached the semi to speak with Gude he refused to exit the semi, or speak with the deputy. Gude had locked the doors on the semi. Eventually officers on scene were able to talk Gude out of the semi. Once out of the semi he was arrested for obstruction. The Wisconsin State Patrol inspected the semi-tractor and trailer and found 11 violations. Gude was taken to the Grant County Jail where he was booked on Resisting/Obstructing an Officer and he was held with a $300 bond. Gude was also cited for Inattentive Driving. The semi-tractor sustained heavy front end passenger side damage. The Grant County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Southwest Health EMS, the Platteville Fire Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, and Guy’s Truck and Tractor of Keiler