Troopers ID men killed in fiery wreck in western Wisconsin
Fiery crash closes Wisconsin interstate
A double fatal, fiery wreck in western Wisconsin shut down westbound lanes of Interstate 94 in western Wisconsin starting Monday night. Wisconsin State Patrol reports two people were killed in the wreck and six others were injured. Troopers say seven vehicles total were involved in the crash. Traffic camera video from SafetyVid shows a large fire burning with at least two semi-trucks involved.
WILSON, Wis. (FOX 9) - The westbound lanes of Interstate 94 reopened Tuesday morning after a double-fatal, fiery wreck in western Wisconsin shut down the roadway Monday night.
The interstate remained closed headed westbound at the exit for Highway 128, just west of Menomonie, early Tuesday morning due to the crash. Highway 128 was also closed due to potential damage to the overpass over I-94. The St. Croix County Sheriff's Office told FOX 9 that the roadways have been inspected and are now open as of late Tuesday morning.
Wisconsin State Patrol reports two people were killed in the wreck and six others were injured. Troopers say seven vehicles total were involved in the crash.
Traffic camera video from SafetyVid shows a large fire burning with at least two semi-trucks involved.
In an update Tuesday, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation said a semi-truck driver was traveling the speed limit but failed to notice the slowed traffic caused by a lane closure from construction. The semi-truck crashed into another semi-truck and a pick-up truck. The initial collision caused a chain reaction of four other vehicles crashing. Multiple vehicles caught fire after the collision, including the semi-trucks.
The pick-up truck driver and the striking semi-truck driver were killed in the crash. Others who were injured were treated and released, according to the release.
The road remained closed until Tuesday morning, so crews could inspect the roadway and make repairs, but it has since reopened.
UPDATE: Monday night, Wisconsin State Patrol released the names of the 12 people involved in the deadly, pile-up wreck along I-94 in western Wisconsin.
Troopers say the driver of the semi, who authorities say failed to slow down for traffic, was identified as 76-year-old Zdzislaw Obodzinski of Palatine, Illinois.
The man behind the wheel of the F-150 that was killed in the collision was identified as 45-year-old James Shearer of Hammond, Wis.
A 34-year-old man, a 38-year-old woman, a 16-year-old boy, and a 6-year-old girl, all from Minneapolis, inside a Chevy Equinox, were also hurt. All four are expected to recover from their injuries.
The other injury in the crash was a 37-year-old man from Ontario, Canada. He is also expected to recover.