On Friday, March 8, 2024, a semi-trailer truck hauling milk and a van collided at a Wisconsin highway intersection, leading to the death of nine people and leaving one critically injured.
The collision occurred in Dewhurst Township, in west central Wisconsin, at the crossroads of Highway 95 and County Road J. Shortly before 8 a.m., an eastbound semi on Highway 95 struck a northbound van on County Road J. The semi went into a ditch and the driver was ejected. The van was found on fire and on its side, seven passengers ejected and two inside.
The crash resulted in the immediate death of eight passengers in the van, including its driver, as well as the semi’s driver. A surviving passenger from the van was transported to a local hospital.
Seven individuals from an Amish community in Burke’s Garden, Tazewell County, Virginia, were among those killed in the incident.
Although the Clark County Sheriff’s Department has not officially announced their identities, a community-established hotline has shared the names and ages of eight victims:
James McCoy, approximately 45, served as the van’s driver and hailed from Pounding Mill, Virginia.
Linda Byler, aged 44
Lydia Byler, aged 24, was Linda’s daughter
Ellen Schrock, aged 23, another daughter of Linda
Orlah Schrock, aged 24, was married to Ellen
Judy Rose Schrock, the 6-month-old daughter of Ellen and Orlah
Delilah Schrock, aged 21, was Orlah’s sister
Suzanna Hertzler, aged 18
Micah Schrock, roughly two years old, emerged as the crash’s sole survivor. A fundraising initiative has been launched to support the families affected by this tragic event.
The driver of the semi was identified as Daniel Liddicoat, 51, a trucker and manager of his family milk-trucking business in Iowa County. He was also a former high school girls’ basketball coach.
Governor Tony Evers of Wisconsin voiced his deep sorrow about the accident on social media, saying, “Kathy and I are deeply saddened by the fatal crash in Clark County, which tragically claimed nine lives today. Our hearts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those lost, as well as with the first responders who acted swiftly at the scene.”
The accident surpassed Clark County’s annual death toll in any year since 2019, as per the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s records. With nine casualties, this incident equals the record for Wisconsin’s second-most-lethal crash. A similar tragedy occurred in 1937 in Manitowoc County, where nine lives were lost, as reported by Wisconsin Watch.
The Wisconsin State Patrol supports the ongoing investigation into the crash, which is being coordinated with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
The accident prompted the closure of nearby roads for several hours, with authorities setting up detours around the crash site. The public was advised to steer clear of the area until the investigation was complete and the roadway reopened.
