Wisconsin Ambulance Driver Paralyzed
An emergency services worker riding in the Mosinee ambulance that rolled on Interstate 39 three weeks ago is paralyzed because of injuries from the crash, the Fire District chairman said Wednesday
WAUSAU -An emergency services worker riding in the Mosinee ambulance that rolled on Interstate 39 three weeks ago is paralyzed because of injuries from the crash, the Fire District chairman said Wednesday.
Matthew M. Deicher, 33, who was riding in the patient compartment of the vehicle, recently was transferred out of state for specialized care. He had been hospitalized in Wausau since the crash, chairman Ernie Walters said.
Rothschild police, the Marathon County Sheriff's Department and the State Patrol continue to investigate the crash, which occurred July 31 near the Cedar Creek Mall exit. David G. Nicewander, 52, the patient riding in the ambulance, died after the crash. He was seeking treatment at Community Health Care Wausau Hospital for a dislocated hip. The driver of the ambulance, Jason J. Toboyek, 27, and another emergency services worker riding in the patient compartment, Mary Beth Lingl, also were injured. Toboyek was treated for minor injuries and released, while Lingl suffered a broken leg. She said Wednesday she expects her recovery to take another six to eight weeks.
The cause of Nicewander's death has not been released. Marathon County Medical Examiner John Larson performed an autopsy on Nicewander's body earlier this month and was waiting for results of toxicology tests. He said Wednesday he had no new information to report.
The Mosinee Fire District is not aware of any lawsuits filed in connection to the ambulance crash, said Richard Zalewski, an attorney representing the Mosinee Fire District. He was retained by the district's insurance company, Volunteer Fire Insurance Services.
The cost of medical treatment for the emergency services workers injured on the job typically is covered by workers' compensation, Zalewski said. Nicewander's three brothers have said they do not blame the Mosinee Fire District for the crash.
"I have no reason to believe it was anything other than three emergency workers working to help my brother that day," said Jim Nicewander, 55, of Plover.
David Nicewander lived in central Wisconsin all of his life, growing up on a farm south of Waupaca before moving to Mosinee about 12 years ago, Jim Nicewander said.
He owned Eagle Agency Inc., an independent insurance agency in Mosinee for about 15 years.
