Arcadia man killed in crash during charity ride

An Arcadia man was killed after a motorcycle he was driving during a charity ride was hit by a vehicle that failed to stop at a stop sign.

According to a press release sent by the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department, a motorcycle driven by Daniel Sonsalla, 55, was struck by a vehicle driven by Nadia Nguyen, 18, of Holmen at the intersection of State Road 93 and County Road E in the township of Hale at approximately 10:52 a.m. on Saturday. 

Sonsalla was taking part in the 12th annual Wounded Veterans Ride, which left Arcadia at 10:30 a.m. The motorcycles were heading north on State Road 93, riding through the County Road E intersection before the vehicle driven by Nguyen failed to stop at a stop sign. Nguyen’s vehicle entered the intersection, colliding with two motorcycles. All occupants of the motorcycles were ejected and Sonsalla was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver, Casey Prudlick, 40, and passenger, Susan Prudlick, 44, both of Arcadia, of the second motorcycle were treated and released from the scene with non-life threatening injuries. Nguyen was not injured. 

Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Travis McDonah said Nguyen had claimed that her brakes failed, but that had not yet been confirmed by a mechanical investigation as of Monday morning. 

While speculation that Nguyen was texting while driving was posted on social media, McDonah said the department does not have any evidence that would lead them to believe she was driving distracted. Though, he added the department will process all evidence, including cell phone data, vehicle data, vehicle inspections and roadway evidence before the investigation can be concluded. As of Monday, no charges had been filed against Nguyen.

Sonsalla was a member of the Arcadia city council whose term ran through April of 2025.