Authorities: Man dies of apparent self-inflicted wound hours after wife found dead

Northern Wisconsin authorities says a man died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound hours after his wife was found dead.

The incident began around 7 p.m. Thursday when the The Bayfield County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a vehicle in the ditch on Highway 118 in the Town of Kelly, which is southwest of Ashland.

EMT’s found the female driver of the vehicle dead with what appeared to be a fatal gunshot wound. Authorities say the death is suspected to be a homicide and an autopsy was planned.

The woman’s husband was deemed to be a person of interest and the Bayfield and Ashland County sheriff’s offices began looking for him.

At about 1 a.m. Friday, the husband’s vehicle drove past an Ashland County sheriff’s deputy in the Town of Gingles. The deputy began to follow the vehicle and it accelerated to a high speed before the driver suddenly stopped in the middle of the road.

Other deputies responded to the scene to serve as backup. After the man didn’t reply to shouted commands, deputies approached the vehicle and found the man dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The names of those involved have not been released because family members are still being notified.

Authorities say there is no reason to believe that the community is at risk.