Winter storm causes freeway pileups across Southeast Wisconsin

TMJ4 News is updating this article regularly with the latest traffic conditions. Check back for updates.

Winter storm conditions led to severe freeway closures in Racine, Dodge and Ozaukee counties Thursday afternoon.

More closures are sure to follow with TMJ4 meteorologists predicting as much as 8 inches of snow in the Milwaukee area.

WASHINGTON/DODGE COUNTY CRASH

• I-41 southbound was closed at Wis 28 due to a series of crashes involving 30 vehicles, including six semi-trucks, according to WisDOT.
• The crash happened around 1:40 p.m. near Kewaskum.
• Three people were injured.
• Traffic was rerouted to Wis 175 as crews clear the crash crash.
• The incident cleared around 8:45 p.m.
• WisDOT said heavy snow and winter conditions contributed to the crash. State Patrol is reminding drivers to slow down and allow extra following distance.

WATCH: TMJ4's Mary Jo Ola reports: 30 vehicles involved in crash on I-41 South in Washington County

WATCH: TMJ4's Sarah McGrew caught up with travelers in Washington County

The highway closure wasn't going to stop Kevin Guyette from getting started on a family road trip.

"We're going to Florida in a blizzard," Guyette said.

Guyette stopped just north of the I-41 closure in Washington County. He was getting gas in Lomira before putting his trust in his GPS to get him around the detour.

"Sounds like south of Chicago should be great," Guyette said of the driving conditions. "But we've drove to Florida before in a blizzard and we always make it."

TMJ4

While he and his family were escaping the snow and cold for sun and beaches, others in the area were planning on diving right into the snow drifts.

Friends Jed, Jay, and Eli were also stopped at the Lomira gas station fueling up their truck and snowmobiles.

"It's so worth it. It'll be fun," the friends said about driving through the snow to get to their destination in Gleason.

KENOSHA COUNTY CRASH:

• Northbound lanes on I-41/94 are closed at County C due to a crash.
• The incident happened around 10:10 p.m. near Bristol.
• It is estimated to be closed for around two hours.

WisDOT

FOND DU LAC COUNTY CRASH:

• All lanes of traffic are now open after they were closed Southbound on I-41 between County B and County F due to a crash.
• The incident happened around 3 p.m. near Oakfield.

WisDOT

WAUKESHA/WASHINGTON COUNTY CRASH

• All southbound lanes on I-41/45 at County Q reopened after being closed due to a crash.
• The incident occurred near Menomonee Falls around 3:25 p.m.

TMJ4

RACINE COUNTY CRASH

• The crash happened on northbound I-41 near mile marker 326, near Raymond, Wisconsin, according to WisDOT
• The first call came in around 12:40 p.m. with all roads opened by 2:45 p.m.
• The Wisconsin Department of Transportation said three people were injured. They are all expected to make full recoveries.
• Three other minor crashes happened simultaneously as a result of the bigger crashes.
• The crash happened when two vehicles crashed near the median.
• When other cars slowed for that crash, a semi was unable to stop and hit another semi. That first semi jackknifed and went into the ditch.
• The second semi also jackknifed and a pickup truck tried to stop to avoid a crash. It was unable to stop and hit a third semi.
• The third semi hit a box truck and a cargo van.
• WisDOT said it believes people driving too fast for the wet conditions led to the crashes.

WATCH: TMJ4's Katie Crowther reports: I-41 NB reopened after car pileup in Racine County

Mark Beiderwyeden’s daughter was driving the pick-up truck that crashed into one of the semi-trucks.

“My grandson and my daughter’s mom were also in the car with her,” Beiderwyeden said. “She rear-ended a semi. There was another truck off the road. She had no time to react, and nowhere to go. Luckily, they are all okay. Her truck may be totaled, but that’s a piece of equipment that can be replaced. It’s a reminder to be extra careful though. Even right now, the roads are still horrible and I’m doing 10 to 15 miles an hour under the speed limit, and I have four-wheel drive.”

A lot of truck drivers heard about the crash and got off the interstate early at the Pilot Gas Station near Caledonia. They plan to wait out the storm before getting back on the road.

“It started getting bad in Chicago, then I heard on my radio that two semi-trucks crashed on my route in Wisconsin near the 7 Mile Road Exit,” said Chip Gantt, a longtime truck driver from Alabama. “I’m supposed to make a delivery in Minnesota by 10 p.m., but I told them that’s not going to happen. I’m waiting this out. I want to get home alive. People need to listen to the warnings and slow down. I’ve seen too many accidents and it’s not worth it.”

Wisconsin State Patrol, the Racine County Sheriff’s Office, the Town of Raymond Fire and Rescue, and two different tow truck companies responded to the crashes. The tow truck companies say they have been responding to so many crashes and broken-down cars/stranded drivers in this weather.

Watch: Dash cam footage of the Racine County crash from viewer Morgan McCoy.

Nicole Angelique / Twitter

OZAUKEE COUNTY CRASH

• The crash happened on northbound I-43 near County C Pioneer Road near Grafton, Wisconsin, according to WisDOT.
• The first call came in around 11:30 a.m. The incident was cleared around 2 p.m.

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