MINONG, WI — Two men were killed Wednesday evening in a head-on crash on Highway 53 in Douglas County after one vehicle was driven the wrong way in the northbound lanes, according to the Wisconsin State Patrol.
The crash happened at 5:57 p.m. near mile marker 191, close to Minong. Investigators said preliminary evidence shows a southbound vehicle entered the northbound lanes and struck an oncoming vehicle. Both drivers were the only people in their vehicles and died from their injuries.
The State Patrol said the crash is still under investigation.
Authorities identify the two drivers killed in the collision
The Wisconsin State Patrol later identified the victims as James Paske, 80, of Minong, and Nicholas Groszbach, 47, of Hibbing, Minnesota. Both men were alone in their vehicles when the collision happened.
Officials have not said which driver was traveling the wrong direction or whether anything may have contributed to the crash. The State Patrol has only released the preliminary finding that one vehicle was moving southbound in the northbound lanes before impact.
Crash investigations often continue after the immediate response ends, especially when fatal injuries are involved and roadway evidence must be reviewed. In this case, authorities have not publicly detailed any additional findings.
Crash scene shut down northbound Highway 53 for about three hours
The wreck forced the northbound lanes of Highway 53 to close for roughly three hours Wednesday evening while crews responded and investigators worked the scene. That kind of closure can affect drivers traveling through northern Wisconsin, particularly on a major corridor like Highway 53.
The crash site near Minong sits in a rural stretch where emergency access and traffic control can be more complicated than in urban areas. Officials did not say exactly when the roadway fully reopened, but they said the northbound lanes were closed for approximately three hours after the collision.
With both vehicles heavily damaged and both drivers fatally injured, investigators were left to reconstruct the sequence from physical evidence at the scene.
Local fire and rescue crews joined the response
Several agencies assisted at the scene, including the Washburn County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Gordon EMS, Wascott Fire and EMS, and Minong Fire. Their role likely included traffic control, medical response, scene protection, and support for the State Patrol investigation.
Multiple agencies are common in serious rural crashes because local responders often need to coordinate quickly across county lines and fire districts. The Wisconsin State Patrol remained the lead agency handling the crash inquiry.
Officials have not released any additional information about the condition of the roadway, visibility, or weather at the time of the collision.
Highway 53 has long been a busy route through northern Wisconsin
Highway 53 is one of the main north-south routes through this part of Wisconsin, linking communities across the northwestern part of the state. A fatal crash on a road like this can ripple well beyond the immediate scene because it affects local drivers, commuters, and travelers passing through the area.
Even brief closures on major highways can create delays when alternate routes are limited. In rural Douglas County, that can mean longer detours and heavier traffic on smaller roads while emergency crews work safely around the crash site.
Authorities have not said whether any long-term road issues were identified after the collision.
Wisconsin State Patrol continues to review what led to the wrong way collision
The State Patrol has not announced any citations or charges, and it has not said whether impairment, fatigue, distraction, or a medical emergency played any role. Investigators are still reviewing the crash, which remains an open fatal collision case.
For now, the clearest facts are the time, place, and outcome: a two-vehicle crash shortly before 6 p.m. near Minong, a wrong-way vehicle in the northbound lanes, and two deaths. Those details form the basis of the ongoing inquiry.
Officials have not said when they expect to release any further findings.
