Warden Amanda Kretschmer, who serves Winnebago County, was on patrol nearby when she heard the dispatcher radio call for help regarding a massive pile-up on busy Highway 41 near Neenah in the Fox Valley on Sunday morning, February 24.
She made a beeline for the crash site, and, according to other law enforcement officers that arrived after, was seen crawling atop of vehicles looking for the trapped and the injured. As one officer told a fellow WDNR employee there to assist: “When I got there, I saw the warden crawling on top of vehicles checking on folks, and I was trying not to get impaled by steel.”
Warden Amanda also was among those assisting crash victims who had been taken by bus to a local center, making sure some were receiving food and other needed assistance.
Winnebago County officials later told a news conference the pile-up likely was caused by whiteout conditions. And, sadly, one individual was killed. Seventy-one were taken to area hospitals for injury assessment and treatment.
Don’t try to call her a hero because she will have none of that. Here’s what she told WDNR Chief Warden Todd Schaller when he tried to compliment her:
“I did nothing more than my job yesterday. I’m just glad I was able to assist the Sheriff’s Office when needed and that there were not more fatalities.
The joint efforts of numerous law enforcement agencies, ambulance services, firefighters, EMTs and private citizens was remarkable. As tragic as the crash was, it showed me how many good people there are in this world. The real thanks goes out to the private citizens that voluntarily assisted with victims whether walking them to an ambulance, lifting them over the concrete barriers or providing personal blankets, coats and seats in their warm vehicles.”
Warden Amanda’s efforts would have been enough for one day. But, wait there’s more…
