On Wednesday, May 23, 2018, at about 1:16 p.m. troopers from the Wisconsin State Patrol, Northeast Region, responded to a multiple vehicle crash on I-41 southbound north of Breezewood Lane in the City of Neenah, in Winnebago County. The crash involved 1 injury.
The crash was a result of a vehicle stopped in the right lane of I-41 southbound due to a family of ducks crossing the Interstate. Another vehicle had stopped right shoulder of I-41 southbound next to the vehicle stopped for the ducks. A southbound dump truck and trailer swerved onto the shoulder to avoid crashing into the vehicle stopped in the traffic lane. The semi-truck crashed into the rear of the vehicle stopped on the shoulder resulting in substantial damage and serious, but not life threatening, injuries to the occupant. The semi-truck also side-swiped the other vehicle that had stopped in the traffic lane.
The crash resulted in all three lanes of I-41 southbound closing while emergency personnel worked at the scene. Several on-ramps were closed, using the ramp gates, to limit the traffic flow into the crash scene. One lane of I-41 southbound was opened after approximately 25 minutes. Assisting agencies included Winnebago County Sheriff, Neenah Menasha Fire Department, Neenah Police Department, Gold Cross Ambulance, and Fox Crossing Police Department.
The Wisconsin State Patrol recommends always pulling off the roadway onto to the shoulder if you must stop on the highway.