18-Year-Old Dies In I-41 Crash; Several Injured

GERMANTOWN, WI — Authorities say an 18-year-old West Bend woman and several others were injured after a multiple-vehicle crash on I-41 late Sunday night. Police say that weather wasn't a factor in the crash, but that alcohol likely was.

According to a report from the Germantown Police Department, at just after 10 p.m. Sunday, several people driving on I-41 called 911 to report a serious crash in the northbound lanes of I-41 just south of Highway 167/Holy Hill Road in Germantown. Witnesses told police that a person was driving their vehicle the wrong way, and crashed into several vehicles.

First responders arrived to find a three-vehicle crash, with one of the vehicles on fire. Passing motorists stopped and helped police put out the fire.

Police say the driver of the Subaru SUV, a 20-year-old from Jackson, crashed into a Chevy sedan that was being driven by an 18-year-old West Bend woman. A second vehicle being driven by a 33-year-old man from Kaukauna then struck the Subaru.

The driver of the Subaru was pulled from his vehicle by Germantown Fire personnel, and was transported to Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa with serious injuries. A 20-year-old passenger from West Bend also had to be pulled from the vehicle and was transported to Froedtert Hospital with serious injuries. A 21-year-old passenger from Juneau was able to exit from the vehicle and was transported to Froedtert Hospital – Menomonee Falls. He was later transferred to Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa with serious injuries.

Police said the driver of the Chevy died at the scene. A 20-year-old passenger had to be pulled from the vehicle by fire personnel and was transported to Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa with serious injuries.

A third vehicle was involved in the crash, police said. Neither the parents or their four children were injured, according to reports.

I-41 was closed in both directions for approximately 3-and-a-half hours, and has been re-opened.

Police say the investigation is fluid and ongoing, however alcohol appears to be a factor in the crash. Weather conditions at the time of the crash were not a factor, police said.