In Wisconsin on Saturday night, a 75-year-old Milwaukee woman was killed and four others injured in an accident involving a semi tractor-trailer and a charter bus. The accident occurred about 50 miles northwest of Milwaukee at about 7:00 pm. Highway 33, on which the accident took place, was closed for almost ten hours.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the accident happened when the semi truck driver failed to yield the right way to the bus, according to Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls.
After being struck by the semi truck, the bus rolled and slid into a ditch. The driver of the bus and one other passenger survived the crash but were both hospitalized with their injuries. The 30-year-old driver of the semi, along with his 30-year-old passenger, both from Georgia, were also injured in the accident and transported to Froedtert Hospital. The 75-year-old Milwaukee woman who perished in the crash was pronounced dead at the scene by the Dodge County medical examiner.
Serious accidents can occur anytime a driver is negligent, but the consequences are often much more severe when that driver is behind the wheel of an 18 wheeler. For this reason semi drivers are subject to an extra layer of regulations and licensing requirements. While the regulations on truck drivers and the additional training involved in acquiring the license are important tools in keeping our roadways safe, they are no guarantee that s semi driver will always properly yield the right of way, or be certain to change lanes safely.
Sources: The Wisconsin State Journal “Bus vs. semi-trailer crash kills one, injures four in Dodge County” Dee Hall, March 13, 2011. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel “Milwaukee woman who died in tour bus crash identified” Dave Umhoefer, March 13, 2011
