One person has died and another suffered serious injuries after multiple crashes on I-41 in Winnebago County Tuesday.
Around 5:50 p.m., deputies responded to a crash on I-41 southbound near County Highway Z. A 17-year-old woman from Oshkosh was driving a Ford Escape and came in contact with a semi driven by Eric Fhlug, 35, of Chilton, deputies said.
The Escape rolled into a field and the teenager was ejected. She suffered serious injuries and was taken by Flight for Life to a local hospital, according to the sheriff's office. Fhlug was not injured.
The teen was cited for deviation from designated lane.
While investigating the crash, deputies had to close part of I-41, causing a traffic back-up and slow down.
Around 6:30 p.m., another crash happened on I-41 due to the traffic back-up near State Highway 26.
A semi, driven by Gary Rehak, 58, of Menasha, had slowed down and put his hazard lights on in response to the traffic back-up, deputies said.
A Dodge Avenger, driven by Paul Biolo, 29, of Fond du Lac, hit the back end of Rehak's semi. The semi was nearly stopped and Biolo rear-ended it at nearly highway speed, according to deputies. Biolo's car then caught on fire.
Biolo was pronounced dead at the scene. The semi driver was not hurt.
The highway was closed four about 3.5 hours for investigation and clean-up.
