TOWN OF COLUMBUS, Wis. - Two men are dead after a lawn mower and a motorcycle collided outside Columbus Saturday night, said Columbia County deputies, who are investigating the crash.
Dispatchers said the crash happened just before 7 p.m. on Hall Road between Wendt and Boelte roads in the town of Columbus.
"The lawn mower was mowing grass in the ditch line here and apparently had gone onto the road and turned around to continue mowing when the motorcycle impacted it," Lt. Wayne Smith said.
Deputies said speed appeared to be a factor in the crash, and there were reports that the motorcycle was traveling more than 100 mph as it came over a hill.
"If you're traveling and covering that much ground that fast, you just don't have enough time to respond to anything," Smith said.
Officials said the motorcyclist was a 20-year-old man from the town of Columbus. The lawn mower rider was a 62-year-old man, also from the town of Columbus.
There was another motorcyclist riding alongside the victim who called 911 after the crash, deputies said.
The names of both the motorcyclist and the operator of the riding lawn mower, who deputies said were pronounced dead at the scene, are being withheld until the families are notified.
The Sheriff's Office said the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet and gloves at the time of the crash.
