MILWAUKEE — A Milwaukee County sheriff’s deputy is recovering at the hospital after he was injured by an electronic construction sign on Tuesday night.
They identify the deputy as 23 years old with two years on the job. He has serious injuries, but is alert and walking.
Around 10:00 p.m. deputies were called to the northbound side of I-41 at Drexel in Oak Creek for a semi-truck that hit an electronic sign in a construction zone.
The truck pushed the sign over the median wall, leaving it hanging in a southbound lane.
The driver stopped and was cited for unreasonable imprudent speed/failure to control the vehicle.
As the deputy tried to move the sign from the median, a semi heading southbound struck it, causing the sign to land on the deputy.
The sheriff’s office said a Good Samaritan and another deputy lifted the sign off the deputy and stayed with him until EMS arrived and took him to the hospital.
Investigators said the second semi didn’t stop and they’re still looking for the driver. They describe it as a white FedEx truck with a double trailer.
TODAY’S TMJ4 reached out to FedEx for comment. The company released the following statement:
“First and foremost, we extend our sincerest thoughts and concerns to the officer involved in this incident. FedEx is cooperating fully with investigating authorities at this time. As this is an active investigation, further questions should be directed to local law enforcement.”
Battalion Chief Scott Kasten said the Oak Creek Fire Department has seen an increase in construction zone crashes along I-41.
“There's narrow lanes, lots of roadway cones and other things that make it challenging for drivers,” Kasten said.
He urges drivers to be all the more cautious and alert while traveling through these areas.
“It’s very important that drivers slow down and move over any time they encounter an emergency scene, but also just the construction crews in general,” Kasten said.
The sheriff’s office said it believes the electronic sign that landed on the deputy weighed about a few hundred pounds.
They’re investigating the first crash. State Patrol is investigating the crash involving the deputy.
