A series of tragic events unfolded on Interstate 94 in Monroe County as a Wisconsin State Patrol trooper was hospitalized and two people were killed in two separate crashes. According to FOX6 News, the trooper's cruiser was struck by a commercial motor vehicle near WIS 21 around 10 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 9. The driver of the truck allegedly failed to adhere to advanced warnings, including cones and flares, set up for a lane closure.
The trooper is reportedly in stable condition, while the truck driver involved in the incident was not injured. This crash came hours after an SUV veered into oncoming traffic and collided with two semis. WTMJ reports that the SUV accident resulted in the death of both the 47-year-old Wisconsin man and the 26-year-old Minnesota woman who were inside the SUV. The drivers of the semis sustained minor injuries.
The two distinct accidents caused significant disruptions on I-94, with the highway being shut down for multiple hours as emergency crews worked to clear the scenes. Kaukauna Community News detailed that following the first incident, the injured State Patrol trooper was engaged in directing traffic from the crash site when he was rear-ended by another semi.
The Monroe County Sheriff Department is leading an investigation into the crash involving the state trooper, and details about the incidents continue to emerge. The 72-year-old driver of the semi in the second crash was not harmed, and the interstate was eventually reopened around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday.
