WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and SportsOfficials: pet distracted motor home driver in fatal weekend crash

Officials: pet distracted motor home driver in fatal weekend crash

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VERONA (WKOW) -- A Dane County Sheriff's official tells 27 News a driver's distraction with a dog in a motor home apparently led to a fatal head-on crash on Highway 151 in Verona on Saturday.

Sheriff's Office spokesperson Elise Schaffer says a dog jumped into the lap of the motor home's driver, apparently causing him to cross over the highway center line and hit an SUV.

"I guess you can look at it as any other distraction in a vehicle,"   Schaffer said.

"Whether it's a cell phone, someone texting, kids in the back seat, we try to remind drivers you need to give your full attention to driving."

The driver of the SUV, 55-year-old boy scout leader John Seier of Dubuque, and passenger and boy scout Travis Brune, 12, were killed.

Another boy scout passenger, 13,  sustained life-threatening injuries.

Seier and the teens were heading to a Boy Scout outing in Madison.

Authorities said injuries to the motor home's driver, Gary Voldt, 62, of Pewaukee and a passenger were not life threatening.  

Authorities said the dog involved in the collision, a yellow labrador retriever, has been impounded.

Dane County Humane Society spokesperson Gayle Viney says it's recommended for the safety of driver and animal, dogs traveling in cars be crated, gated off from the driver or otherwise restrained.

"There are harnesses for every type of dog, every weight, size, which go around the dog and hook on to the seat belt."

The collision remains under investigation.   Authorities said it's possible laws on inattentive driving were violated.