Posted on 12/23/2021 6:25:06 PM PST by BenLurkin
The State Patrol said in a statement that freezing rain early Thursday morning left the interstate between Menomonie and Black River Falls icy.
At about 5:45 a.m. a semi-trailer apparently slid in the median near Hixton and caught fire with two cars underneath it. Other crashes and run-offs occurred around the semi-trailer.
No one was seriously hurt but the crashes forced authorities to close both eastbound and westbound lanes.
Authorities add there were many other secondary crashes and run-offs in the same vicinity, and passengers of those vehicles were taken to a safe location by bus.
WITI-TV initially reported more than 100 vehicles were involved in a pile-up but State Patrol Lt. Tim Weiberg told Wisconsin Public Radio the number was closer to 40.
A re-route was created due to both east and westbound lanes of I-94 being closed. Eastbound lanes are closed from US 10 in Osseo County to WIS 95 in Hixton, while westbound traffic is closed from Co
(Excerpt) Read more at kstp.com ...
That part of Wisconsin is beautiful. Glad everyone is okay.
L
It’s the most wonderful time of the year...(not)
I hope my amazon package was not on one of those trucks...
I got a notice today that it was “delayed in transit”...
That is absolutely terrifying. Iām assuming no one was in the car they got clobbered by the semi as they were no fatalities in the crash. If they were, they are extremely lucky
Rumble version for those that won’t click big tech youtube
VIDEO: Dozens of vehicles involved in I-94 pile-up in western Wisconsin from icy roads
https://rumble.com/vrbkxz-dozens-of-vehicles-involved-in-i-94-pile-up-in-western-wisconsin-from-icy-r.html
Damn
I hit black ice once pulling a snowmobile trailer to Cadillac MI once with a caravan of friends behind
Took me 20 minutes to to compose myself after I pulled off onto an exit ramp
About the closest I ever came to needing a shorts change
Watched the video - that’s not a typical crash burn, there’s some kind of hazmat involved. Nothing overly significant but definitely not just gas.
I’ve been driving truck for close to 30 years; black ice is extremely difficult to notice at night. Aside from the typical overpasses, low lying areas and sections of road adjacent to water - simple random black ice cat get you before you know it. Wisconsin is notorious for it as westerly/northwesterly winds are free-flowing straight line.
I certainly don’t envy you for doing what you do. I drove our own lowboy for 20 years hauling our heavy and wide load equipment. 100,000 pounds and 100 feet long
But I could be selective on days it wasn’t fit and only about 100 mile radius
That was enough for me to decide I never wanted to be a long hauler
HOLY CRAPPOLA!
I’ve driven that section many times since it opened in the mid’60s. A number of times freezing ice was an issue. The first time I drove, much of the section in the story (Eau Claire to Toma) wasn’t even open, and old Hwy 12 was used.
I had many white nuckle drives there in the winter, but also many very pleasant ones in the summer (and only one ticket, a warning).
I’ve driven that section many times since it opened in the mid’60s. A number of times freezing ice was an issue. The first time I drove, much of the section in the story (Eau Claire to Toma) wasn’t even open, and old Hwy 12 was used.
I had many white nuckle drives there in the winter, but also many very pleasant ones in the summer (and only one ticket, a warning).
She's a Florida girl so I usually end up driving her to work on slippery days. I grew up in the Northeast and learned to drive on snow. We used to go to store/mall parking lots and go into spins and fishtails on purpose. Best training there is. Eventually a cop would come in with lights on and we'd go find another spot until a cop came in with lights on - repeat.
Followed my parents down to FL when my dad retired. We left New England in December. Got down to MD/VA and there was a light snow. You'd think they'd never driven in it before. People were sliding off the road left and right but we just cruised on through. Both vehicles were loaded up pretty well which probably helped.
I actually love driving in the snow. Snow on top of ice, not so much. Ice, not so much. One of these days I'm going to get an extra set of rims and put some studdable snow tires on it and have them studded.
Haven't seen it as bad as this yet but it does happen. I did drive through a town that had 2 inches of ice on the side roads and the parking lot of the gas station I pulled in to for fuel. Nothing like pulling up to a gas pump on ice.
Pretty, in a way. Great pic!
That’s what I can’t figure out. If the vehicles were under the semi, and it caught fire (and I’ve seen the photos after the a fire was out,) how did they escape? There’s something missing here.
I also enjoy driving in snow. As you said, practicing, and knowing how to control the car in the snow really is almost like an art.
Once I gave someone a ride home in a bad snowstorm as they had a small 2 Wheel Dr. car and I had a jeep with decent all-terrain/snow rated tires. They Were surprised at the times I ended up Using throttle, downshifting to avoid using brakes, and sometimes making judgment calls, Such as not stopping at a four way intersection that I can clearly tell is a sheet of ice and can see all directions and there is not another car on the road.
Ice is a whole Other ballgame, the worst is when you have a layer of ice and get some fresh snow on that. You really have no idea if you are on a layer of snow with dry asphalt under it, snow with slush under it, snow on a sheet of ice, etc. In those situations, just keep it nice and slow and do everything to avoid having to break or make sudden steering changes.
Not so much a long hauler any more; I’ve been pulling doubles for close to 25 years - not much better but home every night. Your job can be a major pain in the a** - dealing with permits, very specific route planning, escort cars and police escorts wherever you go, no driving after sundown. Thanks but I’ll stick to what I do šš.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.