A 17-year-old from Cedarburg, Wisconsin, jumped to his death on March 13 from the I-43 freeway overpass, as reported by the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Department.
The Sheriff’s Department stated on Facebook that the boy intentionally jumped from the overpass onto the freeway, where he was hit and killed by a semi. The names of those involved were not released.
If you need help, the Prevent Suicide organization has crisis lines available for each county in Wisconsin. These can be found here. Other resources for assistance can be found here.
According to WTMJ-TV, a similar tragedy occurred in nearby Washington County in December 2023.
Here's what you should know:
The Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Department reports that the teenager was from Cedarburg.
Ozaukee Co SheriffThe Ozaukee County news release.
The Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office stated that the tragic event took place on Thursday, March 13, 2024, at approximately 6:12 a.m.
The Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a vehicle-pedestrian collision on I-43 at Ulao Parkway in the Town of Grafton,
A 2020 International semi-truck was traveling northbound on I-43 at Ulao Parkway when it struck a pedestrian on the roadway.
“The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Initial investigation revealed that the pedestrian had deliberately entered I-43 from the Ulao Parkway overpass, according to the Sheriff’s release.
The driver of the semi-truck was a 62-year-old man from Green Bay, who was taken to a local hospital and released with no injuries.
“The victim was identified as a 17-year-old male from the City of Cedarburg,” according to the release.
The Sheriff’s Department’s release states that both northbound and southbound lanes of I-43 were closed for about four hours while the incident was being investigated, reopening at around 10:40 a.m.
The Port Washington Police Department, Saukville Police Department, Grafton Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, Ozaukee County Emergency Management, Grafton Fire Department, Saukville Fire Department, Ozaukee County Drone Team, Ozaukee County Accident Reconstruction Team, Ozaukee County Highway Department, and Ray’s Towing Service all “assisted at the scene,” according to the news release.
Initially, the Sheriff’s Department announced, “The Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a traffic incident that occurred on I-43 northbound at Ulao Parkway in the Town of Grafton. Both northbound and southbound lanes of I-43 will be closed while the incident is being investigated. Northbound traffic will be diverted at STH 32, and southbound traffic will be diverted at STH 33. The interstate is expected to be closed for several hours. Additional information will be released once available.”
The previous incident also took place on a freeway overpass
GettyThe Wisconsin welcome sign.
According to WTMJ-TV, the previous event in December also involved a bridge over the highway.
In that unrelated sad event, it happened on I41 in Washington County close to Highway 45 at Pioneer Road going north.
WTMJ-TV said the sad event was being referred to as a suicide after law enforcement sources informed the television station that “the person jumped from the overpass onto I41.”
That man was then hit and killed by a large truck, according to WTMJ-TV.
