By Patrick Tepoorten

A New Year's Day crash in Hudson Wisc., involved two local men, one of whom is uninjured while the other is dead.

The crash occurred on Coulee Road, in Hudson, at approximately 3:45 a.m. on New Year's Day. The vehicle, a pick-up truck being driven by Joseph Westerheide, 20, of Woodbury, struck a curb and overturned, according to a press release by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

John Denesen, 26, of North Branch, was partially ejected from the vehicle and died from injuries sustained. Another local man, Christian Smith, 32, of Harris, was uninjured.

Westerheide was treated for injuries and arrested on multiple charges stemming from the roll-over.

According to the Hudson Police Department, Westerheide faces charges of underage drinking and driving, driving without a driver's license and vehicular homicide. According to Hudson P.D. clerk, Amanda Roy, the most serious of the charges is for underage drinking and driving. Vehicular homicide is a term used by the department to indicate any crash in which life is lost.

Whether the charge becomes more serious will be left to the St. Croix County Attorney's office.

The crash is still under investigation by the Wisconsin State Patrol.

Comment from Theresa, 1/5/07

R.I.P. John

Comment from Laura M. DeMike, 1/26/07

John,

We will miss you so much....we have lots of good memories. Watch over your family, they love and miss you so much. You will always be in our hearts......

Love Aunt Laura, Uncle Steve