APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – UPDATE: The Appleton Police Department is being assisted by the Wisconsin State Patrol as it investigates a single vehicle fatality occurring near the city’s downtown.
On August 30, 2018, at 2:17 AM, officers from the Appleton Police Department responded with the Appleton Fire Department on the 911 report of a single-vehicle crash on S. Memorial Drive immediately to the south of W. College Avenue.
Appleton Police Sergeant Dave Lund explains what officers saw when they arrived at the scene.
“There was a vehicle that had very significant damage,” he says. “That vehicle was up against a railway grade crossing signal tower.”
The position of the vehicle made things very difficult for the officers.
“The vehicle appeared to be in a position where it easily could have fallen back into the roadway,” explains Lund.
The driver, who was trapped within the vehicle, died at the scene. Due to structural damage to the railroad grade crossing signal tower, the vehicle could not be immediately removed from the scene.
Traffic at the intersection remained closed in all directions until 10:40 AM.
Initial investigation shows the involved vehicle to be traveling northbound on South MemorialDrive at a very high rate-of-speed.
The driver, a 37-year-old Hortonville resident, struck a median and light pole before striking the railroad grade signal tower.
Use of alcohol has not been determined, but investigators should know more about that factor later.
“We will continue to investigate that part of this investigation,” he says. “Also there will be an autopsy and then we’ll have to wait on toxicology.”
So far, officials have already received some help.
“We have had some people come forward and let us know what they saw that was leading up to the crash,” says Lund.
Investigators are asking anyone who may have seen the crash, or events leading up to the crash, to call the Appleton Police Department’s non-emergency number (920) 832-5500 with the information.
A one-vehicle crash shut down a busy downtown Appleton intersection for several hours this morning.
Police say the crash happened around 2:15 a.m. on Memorial Drive near College Avenue.
The intersection of College Avenue, Memorial Drive and Richmond Street was closed following the crash.
It has mostly reopened, with Memorial Drive still closed to northbound traffic between Lawrence Street and College Avenue.
Police say more information will be released later today.
