Racine County Sheriff's Office responded to 18 interstate crashes within 3 hours

RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) --- Racine County Sheriff's Office responded to 18 interstate car crashes on Saturday, Dec. 12 between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 13. 

Officials say the crashes happened between County Highway KR and County Highway K in Racine County. All the car crashes were due to a combination of freezing roadways and operating too fast for conditions, according to the Racine County Sheriff's Office.

All occupants involved either had minor injuries or were not injured at all. Out of the 18 accidents, five had non-life threatening injuries. Thirteen were property damage only.

During an investigation of one of the accidents, officials say a semi lost control on the roadway and slammed into a car that was already disabled after striking the median wall and narrowly missing the deputy who was out of his squad car. The deputy was investigating the original crash at the time.

A second deputy was investigating a different crash when a car came across the scene and lost control, striking that deputies squad car while he was in it, according to a news release. The car continued on and struck the operator of the original car from the accident. The driver was out of his car and the time and had to be taken to a local hospital for his injuries.

During a third incident, another deputy was investigating a crash was nearly struck by a car that lost control due to icy conditions. Officials say the deputy had to jump over the median wall to avoid being struck by the car.

The Racine County Sheriff's Office urges drivers to remember to drive with caution and slow down with winter road conditions. .