Fatal Car Crash on I41

Posted on 12/07/2021

DATE: December 7, 2021
SUBJECT: Fatal Car Crash on I41
AUTHORITY: Sheriff Martin R. Schulteis

Addison, Wis. – The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the 11th county traffic fatality of 2021 after a citizen reported observing a car on its roof in the ditch of Interstate 41 in the area of Wildlife Rd. From the elevated position in a commercial vehicle, the reporting citizen saw a car upside-down over an embankment and called 911 at 6:54 a.m.

The responding officers located the operator, a 65-year-old Neenah man, inside the vehicle. The St. Lawrence and Allenton Fire Departments responded to the scene and extricated the victim where he was pronounced deceased by the Washington County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Although it is likely the single vehicle accident was not witnessed, the preliminary investigation suggests the vehicle was southbound on I41 when the driver drifted off road left. It appears the driver then re-entered the roadway and lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle then traveled off road right and rolled down an embankment out of view. It is likely the crash occurred sometime during the overnight hours.

Portions of southbound I41 remained closed for approximately 2.5 hours to facilitate emergency cleanup operations.

If anyone has information on the accident, or prior driving of the operator, we encourage you to contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 262-335-4420. The vehicle in question is a silver 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder convertible.