Driver dies after hitting tractor mowing Hwy. 53 shoulder

A pickup truck driver died after striking a tractor mowing grass along U.S. Highway 53 in Douglas County.

The Wisconsin State Patrol says the crash happened at about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in the northbound lanes just north of North Boundary Road near Solon Springs. The patrol says the pickup, driven by a 66-year-old man from Rice Lake, Wis., struck a tractor being used by a Douglas County Highway Department worker to perform mowing operations.

The name of the man who died has not yet been released because family members are still being notified.

The highway department worker suffered minor injuries.

The northbound lanes of Highway 53 were detoured for several hours following the crash.