Authorities in western Wisconsin are trying to sort out multiple crashes along Interstate 94. Segments of I-94 in WisDOTs Northwest Region closed because of multiple crashes.
The State Patrol said in a statement that freezing rain early Thursday left the interstate between Menomonie and Black River Falls icy.
About 5:45 a.m. a semi-trailer apparently slid in the median near Hixton and caught fire with two cars underneath it.
Other crashes and run-offs occurred around the semi-trailer. No one was hurt but the crashes forced authorities to close both eastbound and westbound lanes. WITI-TV initially reported more than 100 vehicles were involved in a pile-up but the State Patrol said the number was closer to 40.
Eastbound I-94 is closed between US 10 in Osseo in Trempealeau County and WIS 95 in Hixton in Jackson County, and westbound I-94 is closed from County HH at Foster in Eau Claire County to US 12/WIS 27 at Black River Falls in Jackson County. Traffic is being rerouted.
Motorists traveling on I-94 and other roads are advised to check road conditions at https://511wi.gov before traveling, buckle up, put the phone down, slow down and leave plenty of room between their vehicle and the one ahead of them.