A devastating head-on collision on Highway 54 near New Franken in Brown County, Wisconsin claimed the lives of two Green Bay area residents early Monday morning. The crash occurred at approximately 5:22 a.m. at the intersection of Highway 54 (also known as Algoma Road) and St. Kilian Road. According to the Brown County Sheriff's Office, an eastbound car crossed the center line and collided with a westbound pickup truck. The two occupants of the car, later identified as 28-year-old Janir J. Rodriguez-Montoya of Green Bay and his passenger, 32-year-old Jorge E. Herrera-Salgado of Denmark, Wisconsin, were both pronounced dead at the scene. The pickup truck driver, Aaron Heim of Luxemburg, sustained serious injuries in the collision. Emergency responders closed Highway 54 from Craanen Road to New Franken while the Brown County Sheriff's Office Crash Reconstruction Team conducted their investigation of the accident scene.

Location and Infrastructure

Highway 54 (Algoma Road) serves as a vital east-west connector in Brown County, linking the Green Bay area with smaller communities like New Franken and continuing northeast toward Algoma in Kewaunee County. The collision occurred at the intersection with St. Kilian Road, a rural crossroads approximately 10 miles northeast of Green Bay. This stretch of Highway 54 is predominantly a two-lane highway with a posted speed limit of 55 mph, featuring minimal shoulders and occasional rolling terrain typical of northeastern Wisconsin's rural landscape. The area surrounding the crash site consists mainly of agricultural land with scattered residences and farm operations. This section of roadway experiences moderate traffic volume, with commuters traveling between Green Bay and outlying communities, as well as commercial and agricultural vehicles serving the region's farming economy.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Under Wisconsin law, victims of motor vehicle accidents and their families may be entitled to various forms of compensation. Wisconsin follows a modified comparative negligence system, whereby parties can recover damages as long as they are not more than 50% responsible for the accident. Affected individuals typically have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit under Wisconsin's statute of limitations (Wis. Stat. § 893.54). Potential compensation may include coverage for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and funeral expenses in cases of fatality. Wisconsin requires all motorists to carry minimum liability insurance of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, though these minimums may be insufficient in serious crashes. In fatal accidents like this one, surviving family members may have grounds for wrongful death claims, which are subject to specific legal requirements regarding eligible beneficiaries.

Related Resources

Emergency Services:

• Brown County Sheriff's Office: (920) 448-4200
• Brown County Emergency Management: (920) 391-7431
• NEW Rescue Services (serving New Franken area): (920) 468-6554

Traffic Safety Resources:

• Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) - Northeast Region: (920) 492-5643
• Brown County Highway Department: (920) 662-2160
• Wisconsin State Patrol - Northeast Region: (920) 929-3700

Support Services for Accident Victims:

• Wisconsin Crime Victims Council: (800) 446-6564
• Center for Childhood Safety (injury prevention): (920) 272-0110
• ADRC of Brown County (support services): (920) 448-4300

Legal and Regulatory Information:

• Wisconsin Department of Transportation - Rules of the Road: www.wisconsindot.gov/Pages/safety/education/rules.aspx
• Wisconsin State Legislature (traffic laws): docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/346
• Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance: oci.wi.gov/Pages/Consumers/AutoInsurance.aspx