Serious injury crash

Sunday, Jan. 31, at 5:52 p.m. the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department received multiple cellular 911 calls reporting a one-vehicle rollover crash on Interstate 43 near State 23 in the town of Sheboygan. Deputies from the Sheriff’s Department and an officer from the Kohler Police Department were dispatched to the scene.

Upon their arrival, they located a two-vehicle crash in which one person was ejected from a vehicle and a total of four people were injured. As a result, Orange Cross Ambulance, Sheboygan Fire Department Ambulance, and the Kohler Fire Department Jaws unit were dispatched to the scene.

Vehicle number 1 was a 1999 Toyota Corolla four-door, which was being operated by Yia NMI Thao (female), a 21-year-old from Milwaukee. Mai Ka Thao (female), 25 years old and from Milwaukee, was a passenger in the vehicle. The other passenger was Ka Youa Lee, a 21-year-old female from Milwaukee.

Vehicle number 2 was a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu four-door. The vehicle was operated by Renne A. LaFleur, who is 45 years old and from Milwaukee. Shirley M. LaFleur, age 68, from Milwaukee was a passenger in the vehicle.

Yia was merging onto I-43 southbound from State 23. During the merge, Yia made an abrupt left turn in front of Renne’s vehicle. The two vehicles collided. After the collision Yia’s vehicle was pushed into the median and Renne’s vehicle came to rest in the left lane of I-43 southbound.

Yia was taken to Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center with serious injuries. Mai complained of no injuries. Ka was ejected from the vehicle and transported to St. Nicholas Hospital with serious injuries. Renne complained of injury and was transported to St. Nicholas Hospital to be checked out. Shirley was transported to St. Nicholas Hospital with minor injuries.

It was unknown if Ka was wearing her seat belt, but everyone else was wearing theirs. Yia received a citation for deviating from lane of traffic (unsafe lane deviation.