Oct. 18, 2025
WESTBY, Wis. — Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson reports that a wrong-way driver incident occurred Thursday afternoon, Oct. 16, on U.S. Highway 14 in the Town of Viroqua.
Shortly before 4 p.m., a Lincoln MKZ was observed traveling southbound in the northbound lanes just south of the City of Westby. The vehicle was intercepted by an alert deputy sheriff, who serves as the day shift patrol supervisor. While notifying the Vernon County 911 Dispatch Center, the deputy positioned his squad car to warn oncoming traffic and successfully stopped the vehicle near the intersection of Tom Burns Lane.
The driver, identified as Dale Herbert Graphenteen, 86, of Viroqua, was arrested on suspicion of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. He is scheduled to appear in Vernon County Circuit Court on Dec. 2 at 8:30 a.m. Formal charges will be sought through Vernon County District Attorney Angela Palmer-Fisher. A charge is merely an accusation; Graphenteen is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
“This was an extremely dangerous situation during a time of heavy weekday traffic,” Sheriff Torgerson said. “The quick actions of my deputy, the communication of our team, and the response by the Viroqua Police Department are all to be commended. I’m profoundly relieved that no one was injured.”
Torgerson also credited motorists who took evasive action and thanked Vernon County taxpayers and the County Board of Supervisors for supporting public safety training.
“This situation was on the threshold of requiring a split-second decision to stop a threat to the community,” he said. “Any use of force must be objectively reasonable. It is deeply satisfying when de-escalation techniques prove successful.”
Graphenteen is cooperating with the ongoing investigation, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
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