From the Burnett County Sheriff's Office:
UPDATE:
"On Monday, March 30, 2020, at approximately 9:15 a.m., the Burnett County Communications Center received a 911 call reporting that Preston Decorah, 27 years old, was lying in a driveway in the Hertel area. The caller was unable to wake him. North Ambulance and St. Croix Hertel First Responders arrived and transported Mr. Decorah to Spooner Hospital. From there, Decorah was airlifted to Regions Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Information gathered through a joint investigation with St. Croix Tribal Police, Wisconsin State Patrol, Burnett County Medical Examiner’s Office and the Burnett County Sheriff’s Office revealed that Preston Decorah had fallen onto the roadway while riding on top of a moving vehicle. Mr. Decorah was left on the roadway for approximately an hour and then moved to the reporting party’s driveway where he was ultimately found, hours later, and transported to the hospital.
Tara Appleton, age 31, was identified as the operator of the vehicle and was arrested Monday at 11:45 a.m. for Causing Death by Intoxicated Use of a Motor Vehicle and Reckless Homicide.
Initial Autopsy results revealed that Mr. Decorah died from head injuries consistent with a fall from a moving vehicle."
This case remains under investigation.
Original release:
"The Burnett County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of Preston Decorah, age 27, of Webster, WI. One person is in custody related to his death. At this time we believe a vehicle was involved in the incident.
This investigation is being conducted with assistance from the St. Croix Tribal Police Department, the Wisconsin State Patrol, and the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office.
This is an ongoing investigation. If you have any information regarding this case, please contact the Burnett County Sheriff’s Office at 715-349-2121."
