Wisconsin State Patrol – On Sunday February 9, 2020, multiple WSP troopers and motor carrier inspectors responded to a series of crashes involving approximately 20 vehicles and four semi-tractor trailer units.
The crashes occurred on I-39/90 northbound at mile marker 167 (north of Janesville) at approximately 1:50 PM.
The preliminary investigation indicates the chain of events began as a tow truck operator was attempting to clear the roadway from an initial crash.
While working to clear the roadway, the tow truck operator became injured when a passing semi struck the operator’s tow truck, pushing the tow truck into the operator who was working alongside the tow truck. This secondary (and subsequent crashes) caused the north bound interstate lanes to be blocked.
The series of crashes which followed involved multiple vehicles and semi-tractor trailer units.
The north bound lanes were closed for approximately four hours. An alternate route was activated. I-39/90 traffic was rerouted onto USH 14 through Janesville and onto Edgerton via USH 51, and back onto I-39/90 north.
Wisconsin State Patrol Rock County Sheriff’s Office Janesville Police Department, Janesville Fire Department, local fire and EMS, the Rock County Highway Department, in conjunction with several local towing companies, worked together to clear the roadway during the inclement, winter weather conditions. Crews worked to get the north bound lanes moving again around 5:30 PM.
The remaining vehicles were cleared about an hour later when all north bound I-39/99 lanes were completely open again.
Throughout the entire incident, two non-life threatening injuries were reported.
Author: News Desk
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