Survivors of Massive Wisconsin Pileup Tell Stories

Jan. 7, 2008
"They started just like rockets coming through here and just smashing in."

MADISON, Wis. --

Drivers who were involved in the massive interstate pileup on Sunday said that they're grateful to be alive.

One driver, Jim Kriecha, from St. Charles, Ill., said that he thought he was doing the right thing by leaving early and driving slowly in the fog.

Kriecha said he pulled over immediately when he began to hear cars smashing together ahead of him.

"They started just like rockets coming through here and just smashing in, and they weren't slowing down because they didn't know what happened," he said. "Probably for about five or 10 minutes, cars just kept piling in and then that truck came through it all."

Although he had stopped, Kriecha and his wife ended up in the mess, WISC-TV reported.

"Somebody hit me from behind as they tried to avoid what was going on," he said. "Hit me and pushed me into the ditch. The other guy got hit behind him and hit me even further."

Kriecha's wife ended up as one of the more than 50 victims taken to local hospitals. Others involved, including emergency workers, describe the scene as nothing short of a war zone over five miles of the interstate.

"I think that is a good analogy," said Wisconsin State Patrol Lt. Lauri Steeber. "As I was driving through, there are cars all over, stopped, that weren't involved in crashes."

"It was very overwhelming at first," said Jay Salvo of the Blooming Grove Fire Department. "It was difficult because of the amount of vehicles that were stopped."

Abiyt 100 rescue workers from all across the area assisted at the scene, taking the injured to the hospital and those not hurt by Metro bus to the Wingate Hotel.

Lizet Zuniga and Erik Kispert were at the hotel on Sunday night, thankful to be alive.

"It's still sinking in that it happened, "said Zuniga, from Hammond, Ind."It was so surreal, like this big accident. It's hard to believe."

"It was just scary to hear cars impacting each other long after we were out," said Kispert, from Valparaiso, Ind. "Usually, an accident happens and it's done. This was not like that at all."

Workers continued to work to clear the scene as of 9:30 p.m. on Sunday.

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