WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – New video takes people inside of the massive pileup on Interstate 41 near Neenah — the largest pileup ever in the state.
The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office had never-before-seen footage from last month’s crash put together. This intense video was seen for the first time at this week’s Winnebago County board meeting.
The video includes compelling sound from victims on the phone with 911 and raw video of first responders rescuing drivers and their passengers.
Deputies and officers from several agencies battled 10-degree wind chills, gusts up to 50 mph and white-out conditions.
“Seeing them get whipped by the elements, and they’re still standing strong for the people who really need it at that moment…for anybody who watches the piece, that really stands out,” said Samuel Karow of Fancy Horse Films.
The film company worked with the sheriff’s office to make the film, telling the story of what occurred February 24th.
“It really, absolutely captured what was happening out there that day,” said Capt. Lara Vendola-Messer of the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office.
Editors and filmmakers who worked on it say it was some of the most powerful footage they’ve had to put together.
“I’ve never seen anything like it, not even close. That was totally new territory in terms of footage,” Karow said.
“It was really breathtaking. It was certainly the most intense that I’ve ever worked on, probably.”
The pileup crash injured dozens of people. It also killed 30-year-old Andrew Schefelker, who was a teacher at Iola-Scandinavia High School.
According to the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, 119 vehicles were involved. Almost all of them are totaled.
