Three people are dead following a two vehicle crash on I-43 in the Town of Newton yesterday afternoon. Deputy Inspector Jason Orth of the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office said deputies and EMS personnel responded just after 3:30 PM to the interstate collision south of County Trunk C. Investigators say a 40-year-old man from rural Whitelaw was driving a pickup truck south, when his vehicle proceeded through the median and collided with a northbound van, being operated by a 62-year-old Manitowoc man.
Orth says the two drivers, along with a 33-year-old passenger in the van, were trapped , and had to be extracted by the Jaws of Life. The lone occupant of the pickup and the woman in the van died at the scene, while the second driver was flown to Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah, but also passed away from injuries.
The names of the victims will be released by the Manitowoc County Coroner’s Office once family members have been notified. The Interstate was closed for about 4 hours following the crash, which remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s and Coroner’s offices, as well as the State Patrol.
Agencies called for assistance included Newton Fire and First Responders, Valders Ambulance, Manitowoc Fire and Rescue, Manitowoc County Highway Department, Sheboygan County Sheriff and Theda Star.
