Egg Harbor Couple Hurt in Accident That Killed Florida Man

The Door County Sheriff’s Office posted this photo on its Facebook page the day of the accident, Sept. 21.

Richard F. Straubel, 78, of Cape Coral, Florida, and Ephraim, was pronounced dead last week at the scene of a two-car crash just north of where Highways 42 and 57 split off in the Town of Sevastopol.

The Egg Harbor residents in the other vehicle – Tracy C. Ahola, 60, and his wife, Kimberly J. Ahola, 53 – were transported to Door County Medical Center in Sturgeon Bay for treatment. Tracy Ahola was then airlifted to Green Bay.

The Door County Sheriff’s Office’s preliminary investigation said that Straubel had been driving on Highway 42 north of Walker Road in a white, 2019 Ford Flex when the vehicle crossed the centerline and struck the rear tires of a trailer of a semi that was traveling southbound.

After striking the trailer, the Ford Flex then struck the black, 2021 Ford Explorer in which the Aholas had been traveling southbound. Tracy Ahola, the driver of that vehicle, had pulled onto the shoulder in an attempt to avoid the collision, but to no avail, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Emergency response was dispatched to the scene at 2:43 pm. 

This is the third fatal car crash in Door County this year. Emergency responders for the Sevastopol First Responders, Sturgeon Bay Fire Department, Door County Emergency Services and Door County Highway Department also responded to the scene.

The Wisconsin State Patrol Crash Reconstruction Unit was contacted to assist with the crash investigation. The highway, closed for the investigation, was reopened for travel at 8:01 pm.

This incident remains under investigation, and no further information is being released at this time.