Washington County Sheriff’s Office received calls at 11:12am. of a head on crash involving a South Bound semi-tractor trailer and a North Bound passenger van that had crossed over the median on I 41 just north of CTH K in the Town of Hartford.
Authorities were able to determine that the van was driven by a 24-year-old Oshkosh woman who had her 15-year-old sister, also of Oshkosh, as a passenger. Both of these young women were killed as a result of the collision and were pronounced dead at the scene. These were the counties fourth and fifth traffic fatalities this year.
Investigators believe that the north bound van was traveling too fast for the road conditions which had snow and scattered slippery spots throughout the County. The van crossed over the median being struck by the semi and the vehicles became entangled and entered the west ditch of the highway.
The 61-year-old operator of the semi was from Ontario, Canada and was not injured but was transported to an area hospital as a precaution.
Authorities needed to close one of the two southbound lanes for over six hours but were able to allow passage at reduced speed during the extensive cleanup.
No further information is being released at this time and the crash remains under investigation.