Investigators revealed the details Monday of the deadly crash on a Wisconsin highway last week and identified the nine people who were killed.
Eight of the victims who were killed were passengers in a van that allegedly collided with a semi-tractor truck, whose driver was the ninth fatal victim, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
Multiple people were killed in a fatal crash, Mar. 8, 2024, in Dewhurst, Wis.
AP
The van victims were identified as James K. McCoy, 46, who was the driver, Linda Byler, 44, Lydia Byler, 24, Orla Schrock, 24, Ellen Schrock, 23, Delila Schrock, 21 and Suzanna Hertzler, 18, the sheriff’s office said. An unidentified 6-month-old child who was in the van was also killed, according to investigators.
A 2-year-old child who was in the van was taken to Marshfield Medical Center for injuries sustained in the crash and released to family members Monday, investigators said. All of the van’s passengers lived in Virginia, according to the sheriff’s office.
Daniel G. Liddicoat, 51, the truck’s driver, was also killed in the crash, according to investigators.
The sheriff’s office said they believed the semi-tractor, which was carrying milk, was traveling eastbound on Highway 95 near the Township of Dewhurst while the van was northbound on intersecting County Road J around 8 a.m. Friday.
Multiple people were killed in a fatal crash, Mar. 8, 2024, in Dewhurst, Wis.
AP
The van allegedly entered the intersection and was struck by the semi on its driver’s side, according to investigators.
Liddicoat was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene, investigators said.
Multiple people were killed in a fatal crash, Mar. 8, 2024, in Dewhurst, Wis.
AP
After being struck by the truck, the van tipped onto its side, skidded east on the highway, and caught on fire with two occupants inside, according to the sheriff’s office. Seven passengers, including the 2-year-old survivor, were ejected from the van, according to investigators.
The van’s fatal victims were all declared dead at the scene by investigators.
A tragic intersection crash in Wisconsin has left authorities scrambling to identify the victims and piece together the events leading up to the fatal accident. The crash, which occurred at the intersection of Highway 51 and County Road N in Dane County, has claimed the lives of multiple individuals and left many others injured.
Authorities have been working tirelessly to identify the victims of the crash, as many of them were not carrying identification at the time of the accident. Through painstaking efforts, investigators have been able to confirm the identities of several individuals involved in the crash, but there are still some victims whose identities remain unknown.
In addition to identifying the victims, new details have emerged about the circumstances surrounding the crash. According to eyewitness accounts, the accident was caused by a driver who ran a red light at the intersection, colliding with several other vehicles in the process. The force of the impact was so severe that multiple vehicles were overturned and several individuals were ejected from their cars.
The aftermath of the crash was chaotic, with emergency responders rushing to the scene to provide medical assistance to the injured and transport them to nearby hospitals. The intersection was closed for several hours as investigators worked to gather evidence and reconstruct the events leading up to the crash.
As details continue to emerge, authorities are urging anyone with information about the crash to come forward. They are also reminding drivers to obey traffic laws and exercise caution when approaching intersections, as failure to do so can have devastating consequences.
The community has been left reeling in the wake of this tragic accident, with many expressing their condolences for the victims and their families. As investigators continue their work to piece together what happened, one thing is clear: this intersection crash serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safe driving practices and the devastating impact that reckless behavior can have on innocent lives.
