UPDATE (October 25, 2023): Authorities identified the people killed in the crash. One was 45-year-old James Shearer, who was in a Ford F-150 that was the first vehicle struck by the 18-wheeler. The other victim was 76-year-old Zdzislaw Obodzinski, who was in the 18-wheeler which police say crashed into the line of traffic. While prior reports said six people were hurt, current reports say three adults, a teen, and a child were taken to a hospital.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

The video seems to show a clear example of a truck failing to slow down for stopped traffic, and frankly that's usually the result of an easily avoidable mistake. To be clear, I'm not here to speak ill of someone who lost their life. On the contrary, I'm wondering if authorities are looking into the driver's employer. People tend to throw up their hands and assume that since the supposed at-fault truck driver lost their life, there's nothing else to discuss. But what if there were other mistakes made beyond the truck driver's control?

Let me explain what I mean by that. I handled a truck accident case a while back in which a truck driver was driving for 20 hours straight, leading to a serious crash. The authorities and everyone reading about the crash was rightfully upset at the truck driver's actions. But it was our independent investigations which revealed the driver's employer illegally offered bonuses to drivers who violated their hours of service limits. They didn't care about the safety of the public or even their own employees. Their only thought was that more business equaled good business.

Any experienced trucker will tell you some unscrupulous companies out there force their drivers to choose between being safe and putting food on the table. Unfortunately, not every driver is going to feel like they really have a choice. Stories like that are what make me wonder if something similar led to this awful event and whether or not authorities are looking into that possibility.

St. Croix County, WI — October 23, 2023, two were killed and six were injured following an 18-wheeler accident late Monday on Interstate 94.

Initial details from the Wisconsin State Patrol says that the incident happened before sundown along the westbound lanes of I-94 at the Highway 128 exit.

Traffic camera footage of the crash was published by local news outlets. The video shows that an 18-wheeler and several passenger vehicles slow down for traffic. Another 18-wheeler approaching from behind, though, does not slow down in time, plowing into the back of a white passenger vehicle. This crushed that vehicle between the two 18-wheelers, and a fire erupted.

Reports are saying that two people died as a result of the crash while at least six others were injured. Identities are not available at this time, and authorities continue to investigate what factors led to the crash.