Looks like a group of Amish (or maybe Mennonite, though the last names don't quite fit) coming to visit Central Wisconsin with an "English" driver. I have taken my Amish neighbors for short jaunts in the area. I know they hire drivers to take them on long trips - buses if there are enough of them going. Often these drivers get little or no sleep because the passengers don't want to pay for hotels/motels. They also rarely wear seatbelts because it's "all in God's hands" in their minds. Not that seat belts would have helped much in getting t-boned by a semi and catching fire. Apparently the tanker driver wasn't wearing a seatbelt either.
Sadness all around. Saw there was a video interview floating around social media with the good samaritan who was first at the crash. I haven't been able to bring myself to watch it. Reading this put me through enough.
From the Clark County Sheriff's Facebook page:
⚠️ NEWS RELEASE: FATAL CRASH UPDATE ⚠️
Update: 3:20PM 03/11/2024
Nine people are dead after they were involved in a crash on STH 95 by CTH J in the township of Dewhurst.
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call of the crash at about 7:53AM on Friday March 8th 2024. When Deputies arrived on scene, they saw a semi-tractor in the north ditch and its trailer lying on its side behind it east of the intersection of CTH J facing west. There was also a van lying on its driver’s side east of the intersection facing a north east direction in the west
bound lane that was on fire.
It’s believed the semi-tractor was eastbound on STH 95 and the van was northbound on CTH J. The van entered the intersection and was struck by the semi on its driver’s side. The semi driver was ejected from the semi when it entered the north ditch and struck a driveway leading to a wooded area. The trailer, which was about ¼ full of milk, spun clockwise and came to rest on its side behind the cab of the semi. The semi driver was Daniel G. Liddicoat 51 yrs. old from Rewey, Wisconsin and was pronounced dead at the scene by Clark County Coroner Clarissa Rochester.
After being struck by the semi, the van tipped onto its side, skidded east on the highway and started on fire with 2 occupants inside. The only survivor, a 2 years old child, was transported to the Marshfield Medical Center and was released to family members today, March 11th 2024.
There were a total of 9 people in the van at the time of the crash, 7 of which were ejected, including our only survivor.
Of the nine people in the van, the following 8 people, all from Virginia, died at the scene:
- James K. McCoy (driver) 46 yrs. old
- Linda Byler 44 yrs. old
- Lydia Byler 24 yrs. old,
- Orla Schrock 24 yrs. old
- Ellen Schrock 23 yrs. old
- Delila Schrock 21 yrs. old
- Suzanna Hertzler 18 yrs. old
- A 6 month old child
The Merrillan First Responders and Fire Department, Black River Falls Ambulance, Hatfield Fire Department and First Responders, Neillsville Area Ambulance and Fire Department, Marshfield Fire Department Ambulance Service all responded to the scene with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, Clark County Emergency Management and the Clark County Coroner’s Office.
This is the first fatal accident in 2024 for Clark County.
Chief Deputy James Hirsch
Clark County Sheriff’s Office
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