A personal injury accident was reported Tuesday morning along Heather Avenue south of Coulter.
According to Franklin County Sheriff Aaron Dodd, the crash was called in at 8:48 a.m. Tuesday. A Freightliner semi driven by William Nelson of Emmetsburg was traveling northbound when it was rear-ended by another northbound Freightliner semi driven by Bruce Fischer of Boscobel, Wisconsin.
Dodd says road conditions were slick from freezing fog, and visibility was extremely limited at the time of the crash. Fischer’s semi struck the rear of Nelson’s semi, causing significant damage to both vehicles.
Fischer was transported from the scene by Franklin General EMS with non-life-threatening injuries.
Nelson’s trailer sustained heavy damage, and the hogs he was hauling were offloaded at the scene into another semi-trailer. Fischer’s hopper trailer was also significantly damaged and was carrying a dry calcium product, which had to be vacuumed into another trailer before the roadway could be cleared.
Total damage to both trucks and trailers is estimated to exceed $150,000. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by area EMS, the Coulter Fire Department, and others who helped manage traffic and clear the scene.
