Missing Watertown man found dead after rural car crash

Metro Wire Staff

A Watertown man missing since Dec. 29 has been found dead following a single-vehicle collision in the town of Buena Vista.

Jerald T. Brennan of Watertown was found by Portage Co. deputies shortly before 1 p.m. on Wednesday. He is believed to have been in the area for ice fishing.

According to a news release from the Portage Co. Sheriff’s Office, Brennan’s vehicle left the roadway on State Hwy. 54 between Corrigan Rd. and Lucht Rd. after narrowly missing a guardrail.

The vehicle traveled down an embankment and into a wooded area where the vehicle became covered with trees and debris.

The scene was further obscured by the recent snowfall, the news release said.

The crash scene and victim were later discovered by a passing motorist.

The crash and cause of death are under investigation by the Portage County Sheriff’s Office and Portage County Medical Examiner.