Beaver Dam man suffers life threatening injuries after crashing into back of semi trailer

On Friday, June 23 at approximately 8:31 AM, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a car that hit a semi tractor-trailer on I-41 south near County Highway FD/Pioneer Road in Polk. Personnel from the Sheriff’s Office and Jackson Fire Department responded to the scene.

When emergency officials arrived they saw that the car had rear ended the semi and that the driver appeared to be seriously injured. Flight for Life was called to the scene. 

A preliminary on-scene investigation revealed that the tractor-trailer was stopped and legally parked on the far right shoulder/emergency lane. The semi tractor-trailer had previously experienced mechanical difficulties and its 4-way flashers were activated.

Witnesses told investigators that the car driven by a 22-year-old Beaver Dam man was speeding and passing erratically prior to the crash. Moments before impact, the driver of the car attempted to pass a group of vehicles utilizing the far right shoulder/emergency lane. In the process, the car hit the back of the parked semi-trailer.

The driver of the semi was not injured. Rescue personnel extricated the driver of the car, and took him from the scene by ambulance to a nearby parking lot where Flight For Life had landed. The driver was flown to Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa with suspected life threatening injuries.

I-41 south was closed for over an hour.

The crash remains under investigation by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.