Janesville, Wisconsin – Wayne Caswell, 30, and his girlfriend, Gretchen Walbaum, 52, both tragically lost their lives in a motorcycle accident on Saturday, August 17, 2024. The incident occurred near the intersection of E. Delavan Drive and Beloit Avenue at approximately 2:14 a.m. when a drunk driver ran a red light and collided with their vehicle.
The driver responsible for the accident, identified as 32-year-old Koty Diaz from Janesville, was arrested at the scene. He faces charges of homicide by drunken use of a motor vehicle. This is Diaz’s second arrest for driving under the influence, and his license was reportedly suspended or revoked at the time of the crash. The investigation led to the closure of the accident site for nearly four hours as authorities conducted their inquiries.
Wayne Caswell was well-known and cherished by those who knew him. Christina Grindle, a colleague who worked with Wayne over two decades ago, shared her condolences on Facebook, stating, "Wayne trained me on my first week of work 20+ years ago. I would see him around the plant here and there. He would always have such a positive personality."
Wayne’s family and friends are left heartbroken by this senseless tragedy. Camee Caswell expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support, saying, "Thank you for your kind words. It is so lovely to hear how many people loved him and have such fond memories."
In honor of Wayne and Gretchen’s memory, a GoFundMe campaign has been organized by Kimberley Lawrence. The fundraiser seeks to assist with funeral expenses and to remember the lives of both victims, who were taken too soon by this tragic accident.
The community continues to mourn the loss of Wayne Caswell and Gretchen Walbaum, whose lives were cut short by a preventable and heartbreaking event.