SHERMAN, Wis. — On Wednesday at 2:08 p.m., the Sheboygan County emergency officials received reports of a crash involving a semi-truck and a train in the Town of Sherman, which is in southwestern Sheboygan County.
The Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) said the crash occurred in the west 5100 block of Abbott Drive.
SCSO said when deputies reached the scene of the crash, they found a semi-truck with an attached tanker on its side in a ditch. The truck had been transporting about 5,000 gallons of liquid manure. The semi-truck was traveling west on Abbott Drive and crossed a railway crossing.
As it crossed, the semi-truck was hit by a Wisconsin Southern train traveling north.
SCSO said the semi-truck driver, Jeffery S. Blankenheim, died as a result of the crash. The 66-year-old man was from Kewaskum.
SCSO said no other injuries were reported.
The train’s engine and six of its estimated 22 cars were derailed. Only one derailed car lost some of its plastic pellet contents.
SCSO said the railway crossing did have a yield sign on Abbott Drive. However, there are no lights or gates there.
Donald Vruwink is the railroad commissioner for the state. He said there hasn’t been an accident at this train crossing since 1989, but said it’s not unusual for a something like this to happen in a spot like this.
“In most cases, when we see these accidents happen it’s in these rural areas without gates and lights that just have a yield signs and people get complacent because there are only two trains that come through a day,” Vruwink said.
Lisa Pfund and her grandson, Jackson, live just a few hundred feet from the wreckage. She said she’s always worried this could happen due to vehicles driving excessive speeds on Abbott Drive.
“When I hear it go through at night I just wait for the crash because nobody slows down, nobody stops, nobody yields,” Pfund said.
Vruwink encouraged Wisconsin residents to report excessive speeding near railroad crossings so his team can investigate and find solutions.
With the investigation into the crash is underway, Abbott Drive will be closed westbound from State Highway 57. Vehicles entering from the west will need to turn south on Allen Road. Officials said the investigation could take several days and re-opening would also be dependent on repairs.
SCSO said there’s no hazard or danger to the community at this time.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misspelled Lisa Pfund's name. This has been corrected. (Aug. 15, 2024)
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