December 5, 2025 – West Bend, Wi – A multi-vehicle crash on the southbound Highway 45 off-ramp to Highway 33 on December 3, 2025, caused significant delays for evening commuters.
One motorist described a near standstill on the highway, saying, “Almost immediately there was a traffic jam, cars moving inches at a time. I saw an ambulance heading south on 45 and four flatbed trucks driving on the far right heading for the accident… It took me at least 40 minutes to get home where normally it’s 20.”
According to Washington County Sheriff Martin Schulteis, the crash involved five vehicles and resulted in minor injuries. A Washington County deputy came across the scene at 4:56 p.m.
Congestion on the exit-ramp had traffic backed up onto Highway 45, causing drivers to brake hard and collide. One individual was transported for a numb leg.
The roadway was reopened approximately one hour later.
