Pickup truck strikes rural Mondovi home

The Pepin County Sheriff’s Department was on the lookout for the driver of a Chevrolet S10 pickup that struck a home in Albany Township early Sunday morning, Sept. 13, then fled the scene on foot.

Anthony Matson of Elk Mound turned himself in to the Pepin County Sheriff’s Department on Monday evening, Sept. 14, at about 6:40 p.m.

Matson is currently being held in the Pepin County Jail on felony charges. He was expected to be formally charged by the Pepin County District Attorney’s office on Tuesday, Sept. 15.

According to a news release, the sheriff’s office received a call reporting a crash at the residence at N7506 County Highway H in rural Mondovi at about 1 a.m. Sunday morning.

The homeowner, Bob Parr, reported that a pickup had left the roadway and traveled 60 yards across the lawn. The truck then hit his home, causing significant damage to the corner of the house.

Parr’s grandson was asleep inside the bedroom where the truck hit, authorities say. He was uninjured, but the impact of the crash caused the bed he was sleeping in to move inside the bedroom.

According to the report, the driver of the truck, later identified as Matson, did speak with the homeowner, but then he left the scene on foot.

Deputies used a dog to track the driver through a corn field, but then lost the track. Two air units were contacted to assist in the search, but due to conditions were unable to fly.

The Rock Creek, Mondovi and Durand fire departments assisted deputies in their search for the driver, but were unable to locate him.

Also assisting at the scene of the crash were the Durand, Mondovi and Osseo police departments, Mondovi Ambulance and the Wisconsin State Patrol.

The incident remains under investigation.