Insurance Company Wins Appeal in Officer’s Death

A Wisconsin appeals court says the estate of a police officer killed in a car crash six years ago cannot collect on his insurance policy.

The ruling overturns a judge’s decision awarding Robert Etter’s estate nearly $500,000 from State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co.

The Third District Court of Appeals says a Brown County judge erred in ruling the State Farm liability policy purchased by Etter and his wife provided uninsured motorist coverage.

The 56-year-old Etter and 32-year-old Stephanie Markins were killed in July 2002 at a stop sign in rural Green Bay when Tyson Kreuscher of the Town of Hobart rammed his truck into their squad car.

Kreuscher was convicted of two counts of first-degree intentional homicide and sentenced to life in prison.