Police call trucker a ‘hero’ after he dies swerving to avoid I-94 crash

Authorities in Wisconsin are calling an unidentified trucker a hero after the driver made a decision to swerve off the road rather than collide with at least four other vehicles that had crashed on Interstate 94 in Caledonia, Wis., on Wednesday, which cost the driver’s life.

In a news conference Wednesday, Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said the driver, who police have not identified pending notification of next of kin, drove off the east side of the northbound lanes of I-94 and fell about 30 feet down to a frontage road rather than crash into several disabled vehicles that were blocking travel lanes.

“I think this unfortunate deceased individual is a hero by turning down and risking his own life to avoid crashing into innocent people,” Schmaling said.

According to police, the crash occurred at around 11 a.m. on June 19, when the driver of a southbound tractor-trailer attempted a lane change and hit a construction barrier. Schmaling said that driver overcorrected and crashed into the median wall, pushing the concrete median barriers into the northbound lanes. Three passenger vehicles then collided with that tractor-trailer, the barriers and each other. Several vehicles were reportedly on fire following the crash.

The driver of the southbound tractor-trailer also died in the crash. At least two other individuals were transported to area hospitals for treatment of undisclosed injuries.

The southbound lanes of I-94 reopened at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. Northbound lanes reopened Thursday morning, according to reports.