On Monday, July 25 at 10:50 a.m, the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office responded to a motor vehicle crash on Interstate 41, south of State Highway 67, in the Township of Lomira, Dodge County, Wisconsin.
Preliminary investigation shows that Brian Dunlap, 48, from Newark, IL was operating a 2006 Chevrolet pickup, towing a travel trailer, and was traveling north on I-41. Passengers in the Chevrolet included 4 children and Dunlap’s wife Melissa, 46.
James Swanson, 35, from Durand, WI was operating a 2004 Kenworth semi (towing an enclosed box trailer, which was empty) north on I-41.
The Kenworth semi struck the rear of the travel trailer, causing the Chevrolet and travel trailer to overturn. I-41 northbound traffic lanes were closed for almost 4 hours while the crash was being investigated and cleanup was being conducted.
A 13-year-old passenger in the Chevrolet was flown from the scene by Flight for Life to Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee. Melissa Dunlap and the other children were all transported to St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du lac.
Brian Dunlap and James Swanson were uninjured in the crash.
Assisting at the scene was: Lomira Police, Wisconsin State Patrol, Lomira and Brownsville Fire Departments, Lomira First Responders, Flight for Life, Dodge County Highway Department and Dodge County Emergency Response Team.
EMS units responding to the scene were: Fond du lac, Watertown, Theresa and Mayville.
The crash remains under investigation by the Dodge County Crash Investigation Team and the Wisconsin State Patrol.