Sept. 8, 2025
WESTBY, Wis. — A Minnesota woman was arrested Thursday after a single-vehicle crash in rural Vernon County, according to the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office.
The crash was reported at about 4:15 p.m. Sept. 4 on State Highway 27 near County Road P, north of Westby. Deputies said Marcia Marie Cooley, 44, of La Crescent, Minn., was driving a black small SUV south when witnesses reported she passed other vehicles on the right shoulder before leaving the roadway.
Cooley was evaluated at the scene and reported no injuries, the sheriff’s office said. During the investigation, deputies observed signs of impairment and arrested her on suspicion of second-offense operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and misdemeanor bail jumping.
Cooley was booked into the Vernon County Detention Center Thursday night and appeared in Vernon County Circuit Court Friday morning, where a judge set a $300 cash bond. After posting bond, Cooley was transferred to the La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office for potential additional charges, authorities said.
Cooley is scheduled to return to Vernon County Circuit Court on Oct. 7 at 8:30 a.m. The sheriff’s office said formal charges will be sought through Vernon County District Attorney Angela Palmer-Fisher. A charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Assisting at the scene were the Westby Police Department, Westby EMS, Tri-State Ambulance/Gundersen Ambulance, and the Westby-Christiana Fire Department, which was later canceled.
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