Thursday, August 2 2012 11:51 PM EDT2012-08-03 03:51:45 GMT
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is making changes to construction zones on Interstate 94 in St. Croix County, where crashes this summer have killed two people and injured others.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the State Patrol are making changes to construction zones on Interstate 94 in St. Croix County, where crashes this summer have killed two high school students and injured several others.
Tuesday, July 31 2012 6:52 PM EDT2012-07-31 22:52:09 GMT
A crash involving a semi and a car killed two teenagers from New Richmond, Wis. and shut down eastbound Interstate 94 near Hudson on Monday afternoon.
A crash involving a semi and a car killed two teenagers from New Richmond, Wis. and shut down eastbound Interstate 94 near Hudson on Monday afternoon.
HUDSON, Wis. (KMSP) -
The Wisconsin State Patrol says distracted driving was a factor in the Interstate 94 crash that killed three New Richmond High School students last month.
The State Patrol concluded its investigation Wednesday into the crash that killed 17-year-old Zach Zajec, 17-year-old Josh Goodrich and 16-year-old Jordan Johnson. A fourth passenger, 17-year-old Tom Wanless, received minor injuries.
Crash investigators learned the boys were trying to get the attention of another driver who passed them. Johnson, a backseat passenger, unbuckled his seat belt to try to find a piece of paper. At the same time, Zajec – who was driving – looked in the center console for some paper.
The State Patrol says these distractions caused Zajec to rear-end a semi on I-94 between Hudson and Roberts on the afternoon of July 30. The Dodge Durango hit the back of the stopped semi at highway speeds, according to the report.
The operator of the semi was not injured.
Wisconsin State Patrol Commander Jeffery Frenette said the crash was a tragic chain of events that resulted in the untimely deaths of three young teenagers. He added that distracted driving or anything that robs your attention can cause a crash that can forever change your life and the lives of those around you.
