WAUMANDEE, Wis — Two people were injured seriously in a single-car pre-dawn accident on a backcountry road between Waumandee and Independence in central Buffalo County. Cole Bignell, 28, of Mondovi, and Autumn Caneff, 20, of Alma, were taken to a hospital. Without a seatbelt, Bignell was propelled through the windshield. Caneff, also unbelted, was trapped in the wreckage until first responders could cut through the tight-squashed passenger door to extricate her. Deputies blamed speed and alcohol. Caneff told deputies that Bignell fell asleep at the wheel. The accident was County Road X about 4:30 a.m.
Driver through windshield. Passenger door had to be cut free to rescue trapped passenger. Image: Buffalo County sheriff