AMHERST, Wis. (WSAU) — One of the factors in the death of a rural Amherst Junction man last Saturday was where he stopped to tie his shoe.
Portage County Sheriff’s investigators just released more details about the death of 62-year-old Edward Stoetzel, Sr. last Saturday.
Stoetzel died in his own driveway when his wife backed over him. Portage County Chief Deputy Sheriff Daniel Kontos says the couple was preparing for the day and 49-year-old Rhonda Stoetzel was leaving to run errands. Kontos says she didn’t realize her husband was behind her. “She had a Ford Explorer, which is a little higher in the back, and he had kind of sat on the back bumper and bent down to tie his shoe. She didn’t realize he was there and, tragically, as she backed out of the driveway, she ran him over.”
Kontos says Rhonda heard noises and realized something was wrong, so she stopped immediately. “When she realized something was wrong, she got out of her vehicle. She realized what had happened to her husband, called 911 right away. Emergency responders were able to get him out from underneath the vehicle, but unfortunately, he had passed away.”
Kontos says the case was an accident, but it’s a tragic reminder to be extra careful when backing vehicles and try to know what’s behind you before putting the vehicle in gear.
The incident happened at 10:46 a.m. at their Town of Lanark home.
