TOWN OF SHERMAN, Wis. — A 66-year-old Kewaskum driver of a semi-truck died in a crash involving a Wisconsin Southern train Wednesday afternoon.
The crash happened just after 2:00 PM.
According to the Sheboygan County Sheriff's Office, six train cars and the engine derailed. One of those cars lost a portion of the plastic pellet load it was carrying.There were 22 cars, total, in the train. Investigators said the semi crossed the Wisconsin Southern Railway crossing and was struck by the train that was north bound.
"It’s a fast-moving road, there’s no stop sign, there’s no rail arms, nothing, no lights. Anything. Just a yield sign," Amber Gadlin said.
Gadlin's parents live right next to the railroad crossing. It's an area they have always been concerned about.
Sheboygan County dispatchers received a 911 call about the crash between a semi-truck hauling a tanker full of liquid manure and a Wisconsin Southern train in the W5100 block of Abbott Dr. in the Town of Sherman.
When the SCSO arrived on the scene the semi was in a ditch near the tracks and on its side. There was only a yield sign at the Abbott Dr. crossing.
The driver of the semi was pronounced dead at the scene. There were no other reported injuries.
“Just going over the train tracks at a high rate of speed is unpredictable in itself so yeah its always best to slow it down a bit," Gadlin explained.
Abbott Dr. will be closed from West of State Highway 57. Traffic entering from the West on Abbott Dr. will be re-routed to turn South on Allen Rd.
The closure could last several days depending on how long repairs take, according to a release by SCSO. Traffic will be rerouted along Allen Road for the time being.
The crash is being investigated by the Wisconsin State Patrol. The SCSO, Sheboygan County Highway Department, Sheboygan County Hazmat Team, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Orange Cross Ambulance and fire departments from Random Lake, Silver Creek and Plymouth all assisted in the incident.
Watch: What we know so far about a train derailment in Sheboygan County:
Department of Transportation records show three prior incidents at the crossing in the 80s — 1980, 1987 and 1989.
This story will be updated as we learn more.
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