1 dead, 9 hurt in Fond du Lac Co. crash

TOWN OF TAYCHEEDAH - One person is dead and nine others injured following a crash on Highway 151 in Fond du Lac County.

According to the sheriff’s department, one car and 12 motorcycles were involved in the crash in the Town of Taycheedah

It all happened at about 3 p.m. Thursday.

Capt. Dean Will of the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Department told FOX 11 that 12 motorcycles were heading north on Highway 151 near Welling Beach Road and Gladstone Beach Road.

“They were all from Michigan on an extended cycle ride and they were on their way back home," said Will.

That’s when, Will said, a car going south crossed the center line, hitting 10 of the motorcycles. The car's driver was a 25-year-old man from Calumet County.

Will was one of the first responders on scene.

“Multiple motorcycles, some yet on the road, some in the ditches, several individuals injured," said Will.

One of the motorcyclists died

Three motorcyclists and the car’s driver were airlifted to Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah with critical injuries. Five more motorcyclists were taken by ambulance to St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac with non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigators say it’s unclear at this time what made the driver of the car cross the center line, but the sheriff’s department and the Wisconsin State Patrol are reconstructing the crash and investigating to find out what happened.

“This would have to be probably one of the worst as far as multiple vehicles involved. I can’t recall in Fond du Lac County where we had that many cycles involved in an incident," said Will.

It’s something Will hasn’t seen in 33 years on the job and something he hopes not to see again.

It’s unclear if alcohol was a factor in the crash, but Will said that is part of the investigation.

According to the Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Department all of the motorcyclists were wearing helmets and eyewear. They are from Michigan and were traveling home from Milwaukee.