1 killed in crash on I-94

By Steve Sharp of the Daily Times staff
Friday, December 5, 2008 1:48 PM CST

A South Dakota truck driver was killed in a crash Thursday that occurred on westbound Interstate 94 at the Switzke Road overpass. Traffic was snarled for hours east of the location of the crash.

JOHNSON CREEK - A 38-year-old South Dakota truck driver was killed Thursday in a one-vehicle crash that occurred on Interstate 94 at the Switzke Road overpass.

According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, the crash occurred when Jay Freeman Schoenberner's truck slid out of control and hit the Switzke Road overpass. The bridge sustained substantial damage and will be closed indefinitely.

The crash, which occurred at about 2:40 p.m. at the start of the afternoon rush, caused a massive traffic backup on westbound Interstate 94 as cars entered Jefferson County from the east. The right lane was shut down to allow rescuers safer access to the truck and Schoenberner. The roadway opened completely in the westbound lanes at 12:30 a.m. today.

David Estee of Watertown, along with his wife, was among the first people on the crash scene lending assistance with rope and tools. They had been traveling above I-94 on Switzke Road.

Estee, 41, a former member of the U.S. military said the crash was something he will never forget. He described how the truck of the cab “was compressed like an accordion.”

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“We offered jackets and blankets and tools. We waited there to see if there was anymore we could do,” he said, adding emergency workers worked efficiently in the cold to try to save Schoenberner.

“They did an excellent job trying to extricate and save him. They were totally professional and worked their hearts out. They did everything they could. They did not quit,” Estee said.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, Med-Flight helicopter, Johnson Creek Fire and EMS departments, the county highway department, county coroner, the DNR and state bridge inspectors were among the agencies at the scene.

The state patrol is continuing its investigation into the crash.