Report Rules out Mechanical Issues as Cause of Safety Officer’s Death; Airbags Failed to Deploy

The Wisconsin State Patrol has reportedly ruled out mechanical issues as a possible cause of a crash that killed town of Salem Safety Officer Michael Joshua Ventura, but it does read that the airbags failed to deploy.

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According to an article by Kenosha News, a crash reconstruction report completed by Trooper Michael Smith shows there were no pre-existing mechanical problems with the sport utility vehicle used as a squad car by the Salem Safety Department.

“Inspector R.T. Krisher, of Wisconsin State Patrol, reported the vehicle had six recalls, but none that were outstanding,” the article reads. “The inspection showed the airbags did not deploy during the crash, the emergency lights and siren were activated at the time of the crash and that Ventura was not wearing a seat belt.”

“The steering, suspension and brake components appeared to have been intact and operational prior to the crash,” Krisher concluded. “I found no pre-existing conditions that would have caused or contributed to the crash.”

The report says Ventura was traveling between 82 and 85 mph at the time of the incident.

According to the report, Ventura was assigned to boat patrol on Silver Lake that day, and a witness verified his presence on the lake prior to the crash.

“Dispatch logs from the Twin Lakes Police Department indicate Ventura began his shift at 2:41 p.m. Ventura reported via a 4:19 p.m. radio transmission he was leaving Silver Lake for vehicle maintenance,” the article reads. “Evidence collected from Ventura’s cell phone and a credit card bill show he ate dinner at the 75th Street Inn. At 5:15 p.m., Ventura reportedly texted his wife that he was going to check the lake when he was done eating and would come home if there were no boats on the lake.”

“At this time there is no evidence to support or explain why the officer was traveling in emergency status at the time of the crash,” Smith wrote in the report.

Ventura lost control near the south shoulder of Highway 50 and the vehicle spun across both westbound lanes, entered the north ditch and rolled over.

The autopsy report is not yet complete. According to the report, it will be available in upcoming months. The article does not mention whether or not the lack of air bag deployment may have contributed to his death.