June 23, 2017 – Town of Polk, WI – On Friday, June 23, 2017 at approximately 8:31 a.m., the Washington County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a passenger car that had struck a semi tractor-trailer on I41 southbound approximately .3 miles north of CTH FD/Pioneer Rd in the Town of Polk.
Personnel from the Sheriff’s Office and Jackson Fire Department responded to the scene. Upon their arrival, first responders observed a passenger car had rear ended a semi tractor-trailer. The operator and sole occupant of the passenger car appeared to be seriously injured, and Flight For Life was summoned to the scene.
A preliminary on-scene investigation revealed the following: The southbound semi tractor-trailer, operated by a 42-year-old Salt Lake City, Utah man, was stopped and legally parked on the far right shoulder/emergency lane. The semi tractor-trailer had previously experienced mechanical difficulties and its 4-way flashers were activated.
Witnesses said the southbound passenger car, operated by a 22-year-old Beaver Dam man, had been exceeding the speed limit and driving/passing erratically prior to the crash.
Moments before impact, the operator of the passenger car attempted to pass a group of vehicles utilizing the far right shoulder/emergency lane. In the process, the passenger car struck the rear of the legally parked semi-trailer. The driver of the semi was not injured.
Rescue personnel extricated the operator of the passenger car, and transported him from the scene (via ambulance) to a nearby parking lot where Flight For Life had landed. The operator was flown to Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa with suspected life-threatening injuries.
The crash remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office. I41 southbound was closed at STH 60 for approximately 1.25 hours to facilitate rescue, investigative, and clean-up operations. The temporary detour utilized STH 60 east to southbound USH 45. The Wisconsin State Patrol, Slinger Police Department, and Jackson Police Department assisted with the I41 closure/detour.
