Good Samaritans stop to help after wrong-way driver on I-94 causes fatal crash

KENOSHA CO. (WITI) -- Kenosha authorities and the Wisconsin State Patrol are investigating a fatal wrong-way crash that happened on I-94 early Sunday, September 21st. Three others were hurt in the wreck.

Just before 1 a.m., a Wisconsin State Trooper spotted a white pickup truck driving southbound in the northbound lanes of I-94 near Highway 142.

The trooper pulled the truck over -- but then the driver of the truck fled and scene and continued heading the wrong way on I-94. A few moments later, the driver of the truck struck a northbound pickup truck head-on.

The driver of the truck that was struck died on the scene. A passenger in that same truck suffered serious injuries.

The wrong-way driver suffered life-threatening injuries -- and a passenger in that truck suffered less severe injuries and is expected to be okay.

The wreck was cleared around 5:30 a.m. Sunday.

Kevin Verbunker tried to help the injured passenger in the white pickup truck.

"All you could smell was a stagnant liquor smell in the vehicle," Verbunker said.

Verbunker says he then went to the other truck. That truck's driver was dead, and the passenger suffered serious injuries.

"The lady in the vehicle identified herself as his wife, and kept asking about her husband - 'how's my husband?' That's all she could think about. She wasn't even thinking about her own injury," Verbunker said.

After sunrise, word of the crash spread to nearby businesses -- including the Mars Cheese Castle.

Co-owner Tyson Wehrmeister also lives in the area. He says he can't help but think about what happened up the road.

"Especially with having a new teenage driver, you bet. I want her to be safe. I want anyone who comes to the store to be safe," Wehrmeister said.

Verbunker says the sight of another crash caused by a wrong-way driver disturbs him, but he says the public should also know about the good he saw on I-94.

"People usually just drive by and I was shocked to see so many people there. Another eight bodies there with me just helping," Verbunker said.



Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.