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West Allis multi-vehicle fatal crash, witness describes scene
A woman is dead, and a man is injured after a multiple-vehicle crash in West Allis Friday morning, Dec. 23. It happened on I-894 near National Avenue.
WEST ALLIS, Wis. - A woman is dead, and a man is injured after a multiple-vehicle crash in West Allis Friday morning, Dec. 23. One person was arrested.
The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office said, just after 9 a.m., two vehicles were involved in a crash on I-894 near National Avenue and pulled over to the side of the road.
A third vehicle pulled over, and a man got out apparently to check on the wellbeing of the drivers who had been involved in the crash. One of the drivers involved in the crash, a woman, then got out of her vehicle, too.
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Moments later, authorities said a fourth vehicle came along and struck the two people who had exited their vehicles.
The woman involved in the initial crash suffered fatal injuries. The apparent Good Samaritan was injured and taken to a hospital in stable condition.
Crash on I-894 NB at National Avenue
FOX6 News spoke to Jolene Reit, the other driver involved in the initial crash. She is uninjured but carrying the pain of what she saw, pleading with others to drive only if they absolutely need to and asking employers to have some leniency.
"If I would’ve been parked closer to them, I probably would’ve been injured, or I would've probably been dead with her," Reit said. "You can’t replace a human being."
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Reit said her vehicle was struck.
"I’m seeing a couple cars spinning, and I’m like this is like some ‘Final Destination’ stuff," said Reit.
She and the woman who later died pulled over and were both fine when the third car stopped a man got out to help.
Jolene Reit points to damage on her vehicle
"It was his first instinct to make sure everyone was OK," Reit said of the Good Samaritan.
Right after the two other drivers got out of their vehicles, Reit said a fourth driver cut over three lanes – hitting those two drivers. She said she saw the fourth car send those two people flying over a wall on the interstate.
"It just went straight to them, and that’s when the bodies went up and shot over the wall," she said.
Crash on I-894 NB at National Avenue
She sends her condolences to the family of the other driver.
"I’m mad about a car, but she lost her life. I’m so sorry. Right before Christmas she’s gone. I don’t know her, but my heart goes out to her family because it wasn’t like she was driving crazy," Reit said.
It's a terrible loss this time of year that Reit can relate to. She hopes to extend whatever help and comfort she can offer to loved ones.
Crash on I-894 NB at National Avenue
"I lost a lot of people, loved ones, I lost my brother-in-law last year. I lost my mother Dec. 4, 2019. I lost my oldest two kids’ father Jan. 5, 2009," she said. "You can reach out to me, if I could, I would love to give you a hug."
Both crashes remain under investigation.
The sheriff's office told FOX6 that the driver of the fourth vehicle was arrested for operating while suspended – causing death – and was taken into custody.
Saturday, the Mequon Fire Department identified the driver who tried to help as Firefighter/Paramedic Josh Lipp – who was off duty at the time. He has been with the department since 2009. Donations are being accepted.
What to do after a highway crash
According to the sheriff's office, drivers should safely steer out of traffic and onto a shoulder or service lane and activate their hazard lights if possible.
Stay in the vehicle, call 911 and wait for first responders; staying in the vehicle with a seatbelt on is safer than being on foot should another vehicle approach in a reckless, out-of-control manner.
If the vehicle must be exited for safety reasons, occupants should walk as far off to the side of the road as possible, standing safely away from the vehicle – ideally behind a guard rail.