Hwy. 82 washout east of Lansing claims Lansing man; Black Hawk Bridge route closed until further notice

Authorities have confirmed a Lansing man has died in a crash following the washout of a portion of the highway between De Soto, WI and Lansing, just east of the Black Hawk Bridge Tuesday morning, May 30. James Walleser, age 59, of Lansing has been confirmed as the victim of the crash that took place as a result of the washout of the highway. In a report by WXOW television station out of La Crosse, WI, Crawford County, WI Sheriff Dale McCullick explained that a driver witnessed the washout when another driver ahead of them, Walleser, drove toward what is locally know as Henderson Bridge over Henderson Slough on Wisconsin Highway 82 and disappeared into the washout crater around 4:22 a.m. Authorities recovered the body of the victim inside the vehicle around 8:30 a.m. along Highway 82, approximately four hours after the initial incident. As a further result of the washout, which is reported to have been caused by the undercutting current of recent high water on the Mississippi River, McCullick said the highway is closed in both directions. The sheriff estimated the hole from the washout to be eight to 10 feet deep and is located on the eastbound lane of the eastbound approach to Henderson Bridge, not the bridge itself. Transportation officials on the scene have told WXOW the bridge itself is structurally sound. The closure forces drivers to detour to two other places to cross the Mississippi River, either at the La Crosse/La Crescent area to the north or at the Prairie du Chien/Marquette area to the south. Law enforcement reports that all east and westbound lanes on Hwy. 82 between Iowa Hwy. 26 and Wisconsin Hwy. 35 will be closed until further notice, with most recent indications hoping for opening the road again by this coming weekend, although that will depend upon repair efforts. Additional updates will continue to be offered as they become available.