SLINGER, Wis. (UPDATE 8/17/26 11:15 a.m.) — A deadly motorcycle crash and a second multi-vehicle collision involving two semis caused major disruptions along Interstate 41 in Washington County Monday morning.
The first crash happened on southbound I-41 north of Holy Hill Road in the Village of Richfield.
According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, witnesses reported a motorcycle had merged onto I-41 from Highway 45 when the driver lost control after rapidly accelerating. A 57-year-old man died at the scene.
While deputies were investigating that crash, a second crash was reported around 6:58 a.m. on southbound I-41 south of Scenic Drive in the Town of Polk.
Two semis and four vehicles were involved in the second crash. Four adults were transported by ambulance, while an infant was flown by Flight for Life to Children’s Hospital. The sheriff’s office said all five suffered potentially serious injuries. A sixth person went to a hospital on their own for treatment.
The Milwaukee Fire Department’s Heavy Urban Rescue Team was among several agencies called to help stabilize the vehicles and assist with extrication.
All southbound lanes of I-41 remain closed at County K, with traffic being diverted to Highway 175. Investigators expect the closure to remain in place until approximately 2:30 p.m. Monday for the investigation and cleanup.
The motorcycle crash remains under investigation by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. The second crash is being investigated jointly by the sheriff’s office and Wisconsin State Patrol.
SLINGER, Wis. — A multi-vehicle crash involving two semis has shut down southbound Interstate 41 near Slinger Monday morning, the second crash to cause problems along the freeway in Washington County.
The crash was reported shortly before 7 a.m., closing southbound I-41 between County K and WIS 145.
Emergency crews are still on the scene. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation said the closure was expected to last more than two hours.
Earlier Monday morning, a separate motorcycle crash temporarily shut down portions of southbound I-41 near West Bend. That crash has since been cleared and the freeway reopened.
Additional details about both crashes have not yet been released.
