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Four People Killed in Wrong-Way I-94 Crash

Madison residents all have probably heard about the tragic I-94 wrong way crash that occurred nearby in recent months that resulted in the death of four individuals. When a 32-year-old Waunakee man was driving his SUV erratically on east-bound I-94 encountered officers of the Wisconsin State Patrol, he narrowly missed hitting one officer head-on, abruptly turned around, and began driving against traffic, colliding with two other vehicles. The man suffered life-threatening injuries in the crash; he was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Three passengers in another car were pronounced dead at the scene, with that driver sustaining life-threatening injuries, as well. These four individuals were accountants at a Milwaukee CPA firm; all four were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash. The driver of the other car, a 23-year-old man from Northbrook, Illinois, also was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities suspect that alcohol was a factor in the crash.

This fatal crash is illustrative of not only the dangers of driving while intoxicated, but also of the number of lives that can be taken by the sudden actions of a single vehicle. One state trooper described the vehicles involved in the collision as virtually unrecognizable as vehicles, given the impact of the crash. Due to the nature of the crash, it is no surprise that four of the six vehicle occupants were killed, with the other two occupants suffering life-threatening injuries. Moreover, while several of the crash victims were wearing seatbelts, they still were fatally injured. While safety features on vehicles can definitely help prevent against serious injuries when collisions occur, they are not foolproof, particularly against drunk drivers.

As this post illustrates, motor vehicle crashes, particularly on interstate highways, can be deadly. When a driver acts negligently in driving while intoxicated and driving the wrong way on a busy interstate highway, you may have a legal valid claim for damages for those injured in the crash. Likewise, the surviving family members of the deceased may be eligible to bring wrongful death actions against the clearly negligent driver. Boller & Vaughan are Wisconsin motor vehicle accident lawyers who dedicate their practice to protecting the interests of car crash victims and their families. Call our office today to set up your free consultation and learn what options are available to you.