GRAND CHUTE — A semi driver escaped a burning vehicle Wednesday morning after another passing trucker stopped to help.
Emergency responders from the Grand Chute Police and Fire Departments responded to the area of Interstate 41 Northbound near Highway 15 in the Town of Grand Chute about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday for the report of a crash involving a semi tractor-trailer and another semi-tractor.
Initial investigation suggests that the driver of a northbound semi tractor-trailer collided with a concrete barrier on the side of the interstate, leading to significant damage to the trailer, according to a news release from the Grand Chute Police Department.
This caused the trailer axles to detach and hit another northbound semi-tractor. Following the initial crash, the tractor-trailer slid along the interstate, creating sparks that set fire to the cargo, consisting of paper bales, completely consuming the tractor-trailer in flames.
That’s when an uninvolved southbound semi-driver witnessed the incident and assisted the driver out of the semi-tractor before it was consumed by the fire.
No injuries were reported from this crash.
The Wisconsin State Patrol is investigating the crash. Interstate 41 Northbound is expected to remain closed at Highway 15 for several hours while accident cleanup and Interstate repairs are completed.
The Grand Chute Police and Fire Departments responded to the crash along with the Wisconsin State Patrol, Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office, Appleton Police Department, Appleton Fire Department, Greenville Fire Department, Center Fire Department, Gold Cross Ambulance, and the Outagamie County Highway Department.
