BRIDGE APPROACH REOPENED
The victim of last week’s bridge washout, James Walleser, 59, of Lansing, Iowa, died as a result of drowning, according to autopsy results received by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department late last week.
Walleser was driving to work in his 2000 Jeep and heading east on the Highway 82 bridge when part of the approach span eroded and washed away into the Mississippi River on May 30. His vehicle became completely submerged in the river, which was 40 feet deep, reports said.
The La Crosse Dive Team and Milo’s Towing Service pulled the vehicle from the water. Walleser was pronounced dead at the scene.
Walleser’s funeral service was held Saturday at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lansing, Iowa. An obituary is available at the Thornburg-Grau Funeral Service website (graufuneralhomes.com).