Illinois Man Faces Homicide and OWI Charges Following Fatal Head-On Collision in Town of Burlington

An Illinois man faces homicide and OWI charges after a fatal head-on crash in Burlington, Wisconsin, killed one passenger and injured another driver.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 19, 2026, 6:13 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from the Racine County Sheriff's Office and FOX6 News Milwaukee.

A Lethal Drift Into Oncoming Traffic

A peaceful Wednesday afternoon in the Town of Burlington turned into a scene of devastation following a violent head-on collision on South Pine Street. At approximately 4:22 p.m., a Chevrolet Malibu traveling northbound near Schaal Road began to drift across the center line. Witnesses at the scene described a harrowing moment as a southbound SUV attempted to brake and swerve to avoid the oncoming car. Despite these evasive maneuvers, the two vehicles collided at highway speeds, resulting in a crash that Racine County Sheriff Chris Schmaling described as "entirely preventable."

Fatal Consequences for a Passenger

The impact proved fatal for 32 year old Kenosha resident who was a passenger in the Malibu. Emergency responders, including the Flight For Life aerial medical team, performed exhaustive life-saving measures, but the woman was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Malibu, identified as 31 year old Dakota Morand of Johnsburg, Illinois, sustained significant injuries and was initially transported to Burlington Memorial Hospital before being moved to Froedtert Hospital for specialized care.

Serious Injuries and Extrication Labors

The driver of the southbound SUV, a 61 year old woman from Burlington, suffered severe injuries in the impact. Emergency crews had to use specialized equipment to extricate her from the wreckage after her legs became trapped in the crushed cabin. She was stabilized at the scene and remains hospitalized. The severity of the crash necessitated the total closure of the roadway until 11 p.m. as accident reconstruction teams from the Sheriff’s Office mapped the debris field and gathered physical evidence.