Neenah woman killed in crash with dump truck in Harrison

CALUMET COUNTY, Wis. (WBAY) - For the third time in less than a week, the sun is being blamed as a factor in a fatal crash.

A 52-year-old Neenah woman was killed in a crash in the Village of Harrison Tuesday morning, just outside the Harrison Fire Department.

At about 7:36 a.m., the Calumet County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a crash involving an SUV and a dump truck on Highway 114 at State Park Road. Callers told dispatchers that the vehicles were on fire.

The SUV was heading east on Highway 114 as the sun was rising, and it’s possible the brightness blocked her view of the westbound dump truck before she turned in front of it.

“The angle of the sun may have been a factor in the crash,” says Sheriff Mark Wiegert. “Authorities want to remind everyone to travel with caution during the time of sunrise and sunset, especially this time of year.”

From the debris, you can see the truck pushed the SUV down the road, and part of the victim’s vehicle ended up underneath the dump truck before catching fire.

Deputies found the Neenah woman trapped in her SUV. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her name was not released.

The driver of the dump truck, a 47-year-old man, escaped with minor injuries.

Highway 114 was closed until shortly before 3:30 Tuesday afternoon.

Tips to avoid sun glare when driving include wearing sunglasses, positioning your car’s visor, and having tinted windows. Increase the distance between your vehicle and others, as you would with other weather conditions like rain and ice.

If the sun is too bright, pull over. In 15 minutes it’s likely to change its position enough that it could be less of a distraction.

This is one of three recent fatal crashes in which investigators have attributed the sun as a factor.

On Sept. 22, a 60-year-old bicyclist was killed after being hit by a vehicle, also in the Village of Harrison. Investigators say the driver of the vehicle, a 16-year-old Kaukauna girl, was traveling behind the bicyclist when she struck him from behind. They were both headed east. “It’s believed the brightness of the sun was a contributing factor for the crash,” officials say.

Later that day, a 48-year-old St. Nazianz man died after a crash in Manitowoc County. “It’s believed the brightness of the sun was a contributing factor to the crash,” reads a statement from the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office. “We would like to remind motorists that the sun, especially during the time frame of dawn and dusk may reduce visibility and to always drive with caution.”

The sheriff’s office in Tuesday’s crash received help from the Village of Harrison Street Department, Harrison Fire Department and First Responders, Gold Cross Ambulance, Wisconsin State Patrol, Calumet County Highway Department and the Calumet County Medical Examiner’s Office.

INITIAL REPORT

One person died in a crash on Highway 114 in Harrison Tuesday morning, according to the Calumet County Sheriff.

The east and west lanes of the highway are closed from State Park Road to Fire Lane 13.

Action 2 News has a crew at the scene. Our videojournalist reports the crash involves a dump truck and a car.

Westbound traffic should go north on Highway 55, west on Highway 10, south on County N, back to Highway 114. The detour is reversed for eastbound traffic.

Officials have not released information on the victim of the crash or what caused it to happen.

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