Hit & Run Leaves One Dead

A bicyclist was fatally injured Tuesday night in the Township of Fairfield. At approximately 5:10 the Sauk County Dispatch Center was notified of a hit and run crash involving an SUV and a bicyclist on Levee Road near North Hein Road. It was reported that the bicyclist was thrown from the bicycle into the ditch and that the SUV continued east on Levee road toward the Columbia County line. A second bicyclist that was on scene called 911 and began CPR. Life saving measures were conducted by paramedics from Baraboo Fire and EMS but they were ultimately unsuccessful and the bicyclist, Christin M. Harding, 61 of Baraboo, was pronounced dead at the scene.

With assistance from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect vehicle and operator were located on Tritz Road in Columbia County at approximately 6:45 Tuesday night.

The operator of the vehicle has been identified as Taurean M. Johnson Puttman, 31 of rural Baraboo. Johnson Puttman was arrested for Hit and Run – Involving Death, Homicide by Negligent Operation of a Vehicle, Operating without a Valid License and Causing Death of Another Person, Operating a Motor Vehicle without Insurance, and Failure to Notify Police of Accident. Johnson Puttman was transported to the Sauk County Jail and turned over to custody of jail staff.