The police officer killed in a traffic accident Monday in Dane County is a Janesville resident and member of the McFarland Police Department.
The Dane County Sheriff's Office says 25-year-old Colleen Sutheimer of Fitchburg was driving a pickup truck eastbound on County Highway N in the town of Albion when she crossed the centerline and struck a squad car driven by 33-year-old Ryan Copeland of Janesville.
Copeland, who was just starting his shift, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sutheimer is a Department of Natural Resources employee who was also on duty, and driving a DNR vehicle. She was transported to the hospital with minor injuries.
The Dane County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate what caused Sutheimer to cross the centerline, and citations are pending.
