News

Actions

Family spared in deadly crash on I-41 speaks for the first time

Posted at 7:02 PM, Jul 06, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-06 20:02:31-04

For Adam Festge of Neenah looking at the smashed rear window of his SUV is hard.

"Two of my children were in these seat," he says as he looks at the damage.  He knows he is lucky to be alive.

"I saw the trailer of the truck coming right to the back of our vehicle," said Festge.

He, his wife and 3 small children were in the SUV in front of the crash.  They were spared thanks to a semi that was between them and the truck that didn't stop.
 
"Something broke the back glass of my vehicle," explains Festge.
 
The Wisconsin State Patrol is now trying to figure out what caused 24-year-old Joseph Wegner of North Fond du Lac to slam into the backend of a semi trailer Tuesday afternoon.
 
"Driving behavior type reasons, to vehicular equipment problems, road highway problems, you know even the weather can be contributing factors so it's hard to identify one in such an early stage," said Lt, Ryan Chaffee with the Wisconsin State Patrol.
 
Just a week ago there was another deadly crash in the same spot along I-41 northbound near Highway 23 in Fond du Lac.  Investigators say despite the crashes being in the same area, there's nothing different about that stretch of highway.
 
"There's a lot of vehicles moving up and down that corridor on the frontage road and the interstate," explained Fond du Lac fire chief, Peter O'Leary.
 
Construction crews were doing highway work and had cars slowing down and merging Tuesday afternoon.  Police say construction work is a popular sight in the summer, but people are driving distracted.
 
"Pay attention to the road in front of you and try and put those distractions away to be safe," said Lt. Chaffee.
 
Police say the semi driver moved his truck when he say the vehicle wasn't stopping.  It's because of that maneuver officers say Festge and his family escaped nearly untouched.
 
"We feel very fortunate and lucky, but because of his skills and his awareness we're able to be safe today," said Festge.
 
The Wisconsin State Patrol says both investigations will take several weeks before they're completed.