Crash claims life of woman, injures daughter, son-in-law

An 89-year-old woman died hours after a Town of Port Washington crash Saturday afternoon that left her daughter and son-in-law critically injured.

Nelda Bartz died at 5:21 p.m., two hours after a car collided with the sport utility vehicle she was riding in with her daughter Jeannie Noll, 64, and son-in-law Dale Noll, 62, on Highway KK not far from the home the family shared on Willow Road, according to the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office.

The crash occurred just days before Bartz’s 90th birthday.

Mr. Noll was driving north on Highway KK in his 2019 Chevrolet Equinox when a 2001 Pontiac pulled onto Highway KK from Mink Ranch Road and collided with the SUV at 3:14 p.m.

The driver of the Pontiac, 20-year-old Aryanna Wendtland of Port Washington, was eastbound on Mink Ranch Road when she may have slowed or stopped at Highway KK but, in an attempt to continue east on Mink Ranch Road, pulled into the path of the SUV, Capt. Marshall Hermann said. 

Wendtland, who was seriously injured, was issued a citation for failing to yield the right of way causing death. An 8-year-old passenger in her car, to whom she is related, suffered minor injuries, Hermann said. 

Helicopters from throughout the region were scrambled, with one Flight For life chopper taking Mr. Noll to Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa and another flying Wendtland to the same hospital. A Neenah-based ThedaStar helicopter flew Bartz to Froedtert, while Mrs. Noll was taken by ambulance to Aurora Medical Center in Grafton.

The Nolls remained hospitalized this week. Wendtland’s condition is not known.

The Nolls are longtime Town of Port Washington residents. Mr. Noll is a member of the Town of Port Washington Plan Commission.

Authorities continue to investigate the crash, and a decision whether to issue additional citations or seek criminal charges will be based on the conclusions of that probe, Hermann said.