A sergeant from the Portage County Sheriff’s Department is under investigation for his involvement in a fatal car crash last night.

Sgt. Ken Tschudy was responding to a call last evening when his squad hit 18-year-old Mindy Erickson’s car, killing her on impact.

“As a parent I can only imagine the sense of loss and pain because of this tragic accident,” said Portage County Sheriff John Charewicz.

As head of the Portage County Sheriff’s Department he also can’t believe one of his own is under investigation for a crash that killed an 18-year-old girl.

The Stevens Point Police Department is looking into the accident that killed her.

They say Sgt. Ken Tschudy went through a red light with his lights and sirens before crashing into Erickson’s car.

“You’re allowed to disregard the traffic light, but you have to do it with safety,” said Stevens Point Police Chief Jeff Morris.

Detectives are trying to figure out if Sergeant Tschudy did that.

The State Patrol is helping with the investigation and hopes to determine whether Tschudy slowed down and cautiously approached the intersection of Church and Nebel, or if he just sped through it.

Witnesses say they never saw him brake.

The sergeant hit Erickson’s car with so much force his car ended up lodged on the opposite side of the street in a parking lot, and Erickson’s car ended up about 50 feet from the point of impact.

Although Sgt. Tschudy escaped the wreck with only minor injuries, the 29-year-veteran is feeling a pain of different sorts.

"The officer is shook up,” Sheriff Charewicz said. “He is upset about the accident. At the hospital last night he was concerned not only about the other victims, but about his family as well."

Sgt. Tschudy is currently on administrative leave.

The Stevens Point Police Department hopes to wrap up its investigation in the next two or three weeks.

Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to call the Stevens Point Police Department at (715) 346-1500.