Beloit man dies after crashing into Pecatonica River near Blanchardville, sheriff says

BLANCHARDVILLE, Wis. — A 73-year-old Beloit man died after crashing into the Pecatonica River south of Blanchardville late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning, the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office said.

In a news release Wednesday night, Sheriff Reg Gill said a deputy responded to the 19000 block of State Highway 78 at the Pecatonica River around 3:50 p.m. for a report of a possible hit-and-run crash and damage to a guardrail. When the deputy got to the scene, they found a vehicle submerged in the river nearby.

When first responders were able to reach the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze, they found its driver, Eugene Dinger, dead inside, Gill said.

Officials determined Dinger was driving north on Highway 78 when his car crossed over the southbound lane of the road, hit the guardrail, went airborne and landed in the river.

The crash is still under investigation.

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