Fiery crash closes I-43 in Wisconsin

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel | 10/11/02

[Trust but Verify]

Multiple cars in fiery, fatal I-43 crash

Journal Sentinel, Associated Press

Cedar Grove - More than two dozen vehicles were involved in a deadly, fiery crash on a foggy interstate highway Friday morning, the Wisconsin State Patrol says.

Sheboygan County Sheriff's Capt. Dave Adams said there were fatalities in the accident, but it was too early to know just how many.

Authorities had no immediate word on other injuries. Sheriff's authorities closed parts of Interstate 43 near the Sheboygan-Ozaukee county line after the 7:30 a.m. accident.

The accident involved at least 25 vehicles in both the southbound and northbound lanes, according to the State Patrol.

At least eight vehicles were on fire, Sheboygan County Sheriff's Captain Dave Adams said.

"It's very chaotic out there," he said. "It's very foggy."

"We had 25 EMS, fire and sheriff's vehicles at the scene," said Adams. "Both the northbound and southbound lanes were involved."

The first calls on the accident came in at about 8:05 a.m., Adams said. There was a heavy fog but Adams said it has not been determined if that was the cause of the accident.

Adams said I-43 was closed from the Ozaukee County line north to Sheboygan and would likely be shut down for at least eight hours.

Authorities told three area hospitals to prepare to treat victims.

[Trust but Verify]

There are many fatalities. LE in the area say they have never seen anything close to this. Please pray for the poor souls involved.

[Between the Lines]

Our prayers for those involved and their families.

[Diddle E. Squat]

The pictures are horrid. Fog has lifted, is a big mass of vehicles, many of them charred like a bomb went off.

[bandleader]

I have had the absolutely horrifying experience of suddenly being enveloped by thick fog!I immediately got over to the shoulder? and got out of my car and away from same.I don't know if this was the right thing to do but it's what I did!We must all pray for these poor souls!!God Help and Bless Them!!

[Ronaldus Magnus]

WI Prayer Bump!!!

[FreedominJesusChrist]

I-43 is a popular highway in Wisconsin--it goes right through Milwaukee.

[michigander]

This is the scene Friday, Oct. 11, 2002, near Cedar Grove, Wis., where more than
two dozen vehicals were involved in an accident on Interstate 43. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

[Peace4EarthNow]

State Patrol putting on a news conference right now.....there are 4 seperate piles of accidents.

At least 30 cars involved in the most serious crash.

Cars are piled on top of other cars

Semis are charred beyond recognition

One of the semis was carrying hazardous materials which they believe they have contained

4 Flight For Life helicopters were called in from Milwaukee, Madison, and Northern Illinois

It appears there are at least 6 fatalities

All 30 or so cars, trucks, and semis involved in the largest crash are all charred by fire.

Cars are wedged underneath semis

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Blood Center putting out a call for whole blood, O positive & O negative. 1-877-BE-A-HERO

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They said the cause was drivers driving too fast for conditions at about 7:20 or 7:30 am this morning. There was very thick fog in the area then. I live in this area, and I have seen how unbelievably thick the fog can get on I-43 along Lake Michigan. I've also seen how people drive practically at normal speeds into that fog. I've always thought they were nuts.

Prayers for all involved.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

They called Flight for Life choppers all the way from Northern Illinois. That is where I live on the weekends and is at least a good two hour drive from Sheboygen.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

I-43 is usually a very safe highway to travel on, even when the traffic is considered to be "heavy." Of course, it isn't close to anything like what it splits off into, I-94 going through Northern Illinois into Chicago.

[LostThread]

JS Online is reporting 5 fatal...with 35 injured....2 critical.....

[MozartLover]

Prayers going up for everyone involved in this terrible accident...

[spunkets]

"I've always thought they were nuts."

They are nuts! I have heavy fog regularly out in W.WI and have to drive ~15-30mph. Some idiots drive in that at the speed limit. Then they're surprised when they crash and insist the crash was an accident.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

I've also seen how people drive practically at normal speeds into that fog. I've always thought they were nuts.

Not only were they nuts, but doing something illegal - as it says, "driving too fast for conditions" warrants a moving violation.

[LostThread]

Death toll has been raised to 7....with more potential victims, as told by a noon news conference with the Sheyboygan County Sheriff, who also claims that many of the bodies will have to be identified by DNA...

I pray for all the victims and their families....

[BraveMan]

Please consider these victims in your prayer threads . . .

[billbears]

Most definitely. Ping for prayers and those affected by this crash

[pubmom]

Praying for all those involved and their families.

[Peace4EarthNow]

[tom paine 2]

bump