82-year-old killed in head-on collision with military convoy in Vernon County

A head-on collision involving a military convoy claimed the life of an 82-year-old Boscobel man in Vernon County this week. John LeRoy Shimpach was driving a 2010 Ford Explorer Sport Trac southbound on Highway 27 near Cashton, when he crossed the centerline on Wednesday afternoon. Shimpach’s vehicle hit a northbound 5-ton, “Oshkosh Defense Medium Tactical vehicle” traveling in a convoy, according to the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office news release. The Vernon County Coroner pronounced Shimpach dead at the scene. No info was given as to why he may have crossed the centerline. The driver of the military vehicle, 24-year-old Ramiro Pirado, and his passenger, 26-year-old Teodoro Zamora, were both transported to Mayo Clinic Health System with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening, according to the release. Both men are from Illinois and are members of the Illinois National Guard 6/54th Security Force Assistance Brigade, which was on a training mission at the time of the crash. A second vehicle in the convoy was forced to take evasive action to avoid hitting Shimpach’s SUV. The crash closed State Highway 27 for more than four hours while several area agencies assisted with the scene and traffic control. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is assisting with a technical reconstruction of the crash, which remains under investigation. The post 82-year-old killed in head-on collision with military convoy in Vernon County appeared first on WIZM 92.3FM 106.7FM 1410AM. [TheTopNews] Read More.