Collin E. Giddings, 48, of Ridgeway, Wisconsin, died after a three-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 18/151 on the evening of Friday, October 2, 2026. The Ridgeway Fire Department says he served the community and his fellow firefighters for more than 22 years. This article covers what the sheriff’s office, local news, and the fire department have confirmed.
Name and place check: Ridgeway is in Iowa County, Wisconsin. Some auto-generated websites wrongly place the crash in “Ridgeway, Iowa.” The reports from the Iowa County Sheriff’s Office and local TV stations are the reliable ones.
Latest Update: October 3, 2026
As of October 3, 2026, the Iowa County Sheriff’s Office has identified Giddings as the man who died, and the Ridgeway Fire Department shared a statement on Saturday mourning him. The department said, “Rest in peace, Brother Collin.” Iowa County Sheriff Michael Peterson also posted that the sheriff’s office’s hearts are with Giddings’s family, friends, and community. I found no funeral home obituary or service information yet.
What Happened
The Iowa County Communications Center received a report of a vehicle in the ditch on U.S. 18/151 near Mile Marker 55 in the Town of Ridgeway at about 8:41 p.m. Preliminary findings are that Giddings was driving a silver Honda Accord east when it left the road and went into the ditch. He drove back onto the eastbound lanes, where a Chevrolet Silverado driven by a 22-year-old man from Verona hit the car from behind. A Toyota Prius V driven by a 61-year-old woman from Fitchburg then struck it as well.
Giddings was thrown from his car. A later 911 call reported a person struck by a vehicle at the crash site, which led officials to send more units. The Iowa County coroner, Wendell Hamlin, pronounced him dead at the scene. One report said a woman was injured. The sheriff’s office had not released the cause of the first leaving of the road, and the investigation is continuing. I am not naming the other drivers.
Who Was Collin Giddings?
He was a 48-year-old Ridgeway resident and a longtime volunteer or member of the Ridgeway Fire Department. The fire department’s statement says he dedicated more than 22 years to serving his community and fellow firefighters. Reports do not say whether he was on duty, and I am not suggesting that he was. Auto-generated pages say he owned property in Ridgeway and was mentioned in a town report, but I could not confirm that from a reliable source.
Family and Background
His parents, spouse, children, and other survivors have not been named in the reliable reports I found. A 2010 obituary for a Collin Arthur Sherman Giddings of Lynxville, Wisconsin, lists a son named Collin of Ridgeway, so the two may be related. I cannot confirm that, and I am not treating it as fact. His exact date of birth, schooling, and work outside the fire service have not been published.
Funeral and Service Information
I did not find a funeral, visitation, or memorial announcement. Check the Ridgeway Fire Department’s social media, the Iowa County Sheriff’s Office, and local funeral homes for updates.
Quick Table
| Name | Collin E. Giddings |
|---|---|
| Age | 48 |
| Residence | Ridgeway, Wisconsin |
| Date and time of crash | Friday, October 2, 2026, about 8:41 p.m. |
| Location | U.S. 18/151, near Mile Marker 55, Town of Ridgeway, Iowa County, Wisconsin |
| Vehicles | Honda Accord, Chevrolet Silverado, Toyota Prius V |
| Role | Ridgeway Fire Department firefighter for more than 22 years |
| Pronounced dead by | Iowa County Coroner Wendell Hamlin, at the scene |
| Investigating agency | Iowa County Sheriff’s Office |
| Services | Not announced in reports found |
Reader Questions
Who was Collin E. Giddings?
He was a 48-year-old Ridgeway, Wisconsin, man and a firefighter who served the Ridgeway Fire Department for more than 22 years.
How did Collin Giddings die?
He died after a three-vehicle crash on U.S. 18/151 on October 2, 2026. He was thrown from his car and pronounced dead at the scene.
Where did the crash happen?
It happened near Mile Marker 55 on U.S. 18/151 in the Town of Ridgeway, in Iowa County, Wisconsin.
What caused the crash?
It is still under investigation. Preliminary findings say his car left the road, went into a ditch, and returned to the eastbound lanes, where it was hit twice.
Was Collin Giddings on duty as a firefighter?
The reports I found do not say so. They describe the crash and his long service, but not whether he was on duty.
Have funeral arrangements been announced?
I found none as of October 3, 2026. Check with the Ridgeway Fire Department and local funeral homes.
Wrap-Up
More than two decades of volunteer or professional firefighting is a long record of service to a small community, and his department’s words show how he was regarded. The facts about the crash are still preliminary, and the sheriff’s office has not said why his car first left the road.
As of October 3, 2026, Collin E. Giddings is deceased, the crash is under investigation, and no service details have been announced.
Disclaimer
This article is based on reports from the Iowa County Sheriff’s Office and local news stations, checked on October 3, 2026. Preliminary details may change. Unverified claims from auto-generated websites are not used. Please respect the family’s privacy.
