MANITOWOC COUNTY, WI — A 76-year-old Valders woman was airlifted for medical treatment after her car collided with a train in Manitowoc County on Wednesday afternoon.
The crash drew a response after an automated iPhone crash-detection call came into the Manitowoc County Joint Dispatch Center at 3:32 p.m. on Sept. 2. Dispatchers were told a vehicle-train crash had happened on Lenz Road, just south of U.S. Highway 151 near Valders, and that the driver was trapped inside.
Investigators say the driver did not yield at the crossing
According to a preliminary investigation, the car was traveling southbound on Lenz Road when a Canadian National train was moving eastbound on the railroad tracks. Authorities said the driver failed to yield the right of way at the railroad crossing.
The collision left the woman needing extrication from the vehicle before she could be transported. Officials have not released additional details about her condition, and the incident remains under investigation.
ThedaStar airlifted the woman for medical treatment
After firefighters and other responders freed the driver from the car, ThedaStar took her by air for medical treatment. No further medical information was released.
The response included Valders Fire & Ambulance, St. Nazianz Fire Department, St. Nazianz Police Department, Branch Fire Department, the Manitowoc County Joint Dispatch Center, Town of Liberty crews, Wisconsin State Patrol and Hi-Way 42 Garage. Each assisted at the scene as crews worked to secure the crossing and clear the wreckage.
Lenz Road stayed closed until late in the afternoon
Lenz Road remained closed until about 5:43 p.m., several hours after the crash was reported. The shutdown affected access near the crossing south of U.S. Highway 151 while responders handled the scene and investigators began gathering information.
Officials did not say whether any passengers were in the car or provide details about damage to the train. The railroad crossing incident is still being reviewed, and authorities said no additional information would be released at that time.
Crash-detection technology brought the call to dispatch
The first alert did not come from a 911 caller but from the phone’s automated crash-detection system. That technology sent the dispatch center a warning that helped crews respond quickly to the Lenz Road crossing.
In rural areas, those automated alerts can be especially important when a driver may be unable to call for help right away. In this case, dispatchers were told the driver was trapped, and emergency crews arrived with fire, ambulance, law enforcement and towing support.
Rail crossing wreck adds to a tense summer travel scene in the county
Rail crossings can become dangerous when drivers misjudge speed, distance or the need to stop and yield. This crash underscores how quickly a routine drive can turn into a serious emergency when a vehicle and train meet at the same point.
For now, investigators are still piecing together the sequence of events. The known facts are limited to the time, location and response, but officials have confirmed that the woman was injured and flown out for treatment after the collision.
Local news that matters, from Dulaney Griffin.
