Ecker's Apple Farm via Facebook
Ecker's Apple Farm via Facebook
Two car crashes outside of Ecker’s Apple Farm off Highway 35 in recent weeks have prompted farmworker Simon DeGabriele to increase safety measures within the area.
The fourth-generation apple farm has now seen car accidents on two consecutive weekends, which has led Simon DeGabriele, husband of Jessica Ecker, to seek out other local businesses and local government in order to increase safety measures in the area by lowering speed limits, adding turn lanes and a temporary increased police presence with additional signage on Highway 35, according to News 8000.
“Huge heartfelt thanks to all of the emergency and first responders today. And to all of the medical professionals that were at the farm enjoying their day off and jumped in to care for those involved in this accident. We at Eckers are 100% aware of the conditions on the road. We hire security and parking attendants, we've purchased our own highway safety signs, and we're doing everything in our power to make this busy highway as safe as possible. We've reached out repeatedly to highway authorities at the town, county and state levels in an attempt to improve the conditions of Highway 35. We are barking up every tree we can find but a state highway is a very tall tree," said Ecker's Farm in a Facebook post on Oct. 2.
Only two weeks into October and Wisconsin has already seen 10 traffic-related deaths, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Between 2020 and 2021, Wisconsin saw an increase of 18% in car crash-related deaths for people between the ages of 25 and 34, while accidents involving people over the age of 65 decreased by 9%, according to WEAU 13.
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