A Bad Day on Interstate 41

gary_in_neenah

gary_in_neenah

Super Moderator
Staff member
I had second thoughts of posting this story, so much so that I checked with John. It's a clear indication of what can happen when were driving in Winter weather conditions and we fail to slow down. Or in this case when we encounter White Out conditions at highway speeds. The video was produced and released by the Winnebago County Sheriff's office. Most of the raw video is from the body cams of the police and First Responders. There was one fatality which makes this even more sensitive. The total content runs about 10 minutes, it's Safe for the Workplace, but it is INTENSE. The 911 calls are emotional and what you might expect in this kind of event.

This crash, labeled the worst in Wisconsin history, happened about 3 miles from our home in Neenah. We were going to go riding that day but decided the winds were too intense and we cancelled our plans. I know, who cancels a ride because of weather. Well it was probably for the better. Our neighbors son was in it, unscathed but his car was totaled. We personally know several people that walked away.

I know we have some First Responders that are members of John Dee and I recall some Law Enforcement and Firefighters too. As seen in this video, you guys and gals are the absolute best. You manage the situation, you save lives, and you don't get a lot of recognition. Thank you for all you do!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=18&v=P-XZRalcSnQ
 
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snobuilder

Well-known member
Thats a great video if some self centered commuter sees it and realizes why driving is yur number 1 priority when driving.
We need an app the has a female shreek whenever you pick up yur phone while driving.
This proves that driving while stupid needs to be as aggressively enforced as driving while drunk.
 
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old abe

Well-known member
snobuilder said:
Thats a great video if some self centered commuter sees it and realizes why driving is yur number 1 priority when driving.
We need an app the has a female shreek whenever you pick up yur phone while driving.
This proves that driving while stupid needs to be as aggressively enforced as driving while drunk.
Click to expand...

You remind me of several years back, on a beltway while in a semi sitting at a stop light, I looked in car on my left. A real estate sales woman, a phone at each ear, and fast food in her lap, steering with her legs. All real! Must have been a real hot deal, eh? When leaving the light, she gassed on it good. You would not believe what I have seen over the years while driving truck.
 
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Cirrus_Driver

Guest
I've seen some BAD weather this winter driving back and forth to northern WI in some bad road conditions. There's an obvious increase in distracted driving, and people driving too fast in SUV's and trucks, thinking they are infallable.
I had one trip about a month ago where it was black ice on 41/45 for 100-150 miles, and I could feel the AWD had NO traction - it was scary (2017 SUV). I was driving 25-35, yet people were passing me going 50-55. Totally ridiculous speeds for the conditions - just no clue. I'd never felt that before in an AWD vehicle - like I just wanted to park it and wait. What was the most scary was wondering if the people passing me or coming toward me were going to stay in their lanes. This is what you get.
 
firefighter1

firefighter1

Member
As a career firefighter/paramedic for 11 years this is one of the most dangerous situations you can have. You have a possible mass casualty incident, cars piling up, you have to get uninsured people off the rodeway without being injured. Try to get officers staged before the incident to start slowing down cars so no more pile up. As I was watching I was thinking we need to mark cars that have been checked, they should get a school bus on scene to take uninjured people away from the scene. Luckily they had that barrier in the middle with concrete to give everyone some protection. We always say at work this is how most of us will get injured is by getting hit at an accident scene not running into a burning structure. All these things that I mentioned were happening and many more behind the scene things as well. The responders did a great job to calm the chaos and start helping people. Not always easy to add order to a situation like this.
 
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Deleted member 10829

Guest
I agree, so many things could have gone wrong in that situation, but it was handled very professionally. Emotional video for sure.
 
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chunk06

Active member
Saw the video On Facebook. Its amazing that there was only one fatality. I wish I could find another one that has been floating around from another pile up. A girl was involved in it and was filming while it was all happening. It was obvious that they come up to quick to avoid.
 
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