From the Portage County Sheriff’s Office

On Saturday, July 8, 2017, at approximately 2:07 PM, the Portage County Sheriff’s Office Communication Center received a 911 call of a two vehicle crash on State Highway 49 east of State Highway 66 in the Town of Alban. Upon arrival, emergency personnel discovered that the crash involved a collision between an automobile and a motorcycle.

The driver of the Buick sedan, 29 year old Bille Jo McSherry from Tigerton, Wisconsin was traveling eastbound on Highway 49 when she crossed the centerline on a curve, striking the motorcycle head-on.

The operator of the motorcycle, 48 year old Robert Korhonen from Antigo was thrown from the vehicle during the collision and was killed at the scene. His passenger, 25 year old Stacey Zarda from Antigo was also thrown from the motorcycle. She was transported by helicopter to Aspirus Hospital with critical injuries.

The driver of the automobile, and her nine year old passenger, were transported to Saint Michael’s Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The passenger was treated and released. McSherry was also subsequently released from the hospital and taken into custody by sheriff’s deputies on initial charges of homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle. More charges are expected. It is anticipated that she will make her initial appearance in Portage County Circuit Court today at 1:30 PM.

The crash remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office, and is being assisted by the Wisconsin State Patrol’s Technical Reconstruction Unit. Also assisting with the crash were the Portage County Ambulance, Portage County Coroner, Rosholt Fire Department, Amherst Traffic Incident Management Team, Stevens Point Police Department, and Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office.