RACINE COUNTY, Wis. — Authorities report two fatalities after two semi trucks collided in a fiery crash whose flames could be seen for miles in Racine County Tuesday afternoon.
WATCH (Video courtesy Anthony Stefanescu):
The Racine County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that a semi pulling a flatbed trailer was heading westbound on STH-11/ Durand Avenue when it crossed the center line and crashed head-on with another semi pulling a dry bulk tanker.
The impact of the collision led to the first semi to burst into flames. The second semi meanwhile flipped onto its side.
WATCH (Video courtesy Steph Nelson):
The sheriff's office only said there are "multiple fatalities." The road was shut down for several hours.
Patti Hopkins was outside with her granddaughter cooling off before she heard a huge explosion.
WATCH (Courtesy: Little Flying Robots LLC)
"We heard some explosions, about eight of them after the initial explosion," Hopkins stated.
She said she went closer towards the crash scene and that's when she realized two semi trucks crashed.
"The whole things was on fire," Hopkins said.
WATCH (Courtesy: Little Flying Robots LLC)
As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, authorities are asking people continue to avoid highway 11 from I-94 to U.S 45.
This is an ongoing investigation that is being led by the Racine County Sherrif’s Office and Wisconsin State Patrol Accident Reconstruction Unit.
A WisDOT video feed pointed towards that area shows a large plume of smoke.
This is a developing story and will be updated when we learn more.
Not the exact area, but shows the general location of the crash:
