Three people are dead in a horrific Mayfair Mall area crash in Wauwatosa after a City of Milwaukee DPW truck crashed into vehicles stopped in traffic, the Wauwatosa police chief says.
Wauwatosa Police Chief James MacGillis held a news conference on December 13, 2022, revealing that 10 vehicles were involved in the deadly crash. The victims’ names were not released. However, MacGillis said the DPW truck’s driver is among the dead. The other two deceased victims were in other vehicles.
“Today a tragedy occurred on our roads,” the chief said. “Our hearts go out to the families of the deceased, the injured and those who witnessed this horrific crash today.”
:: Viewer video of the multi-car crash at Mayfair Road and Wisconsin Avenue.
At least one fatality, as @mkemedexamine is responding.
Appears one of the vehicles involved was a @milwaukeedpw dump truck. pic.twitter.com/GNZ6HrUBxi
— Steve Chamraz (@TMJ4Steve) December 13, 2022
The fatal crash occurred at North Mayfair Road and West Wisconsin Avenue and several cars started on fire. Photos and videos from the scene showed severe damage to the vehicles.
Mayfair Crash Details
According to MacGillis, the crash occurred at 12:05 p.m. when the dispatch center received several 911 calls about a vehicle crash at Mayfair Road and Watertown Plank Road involving a “yellow type public works type vehicle that drove away from the scene.”
That crash was relatively minor, the chief said.
At roughly the same time, dispatch received several 911 calls reporting a vehicle fire and crash involving several vehicles at Mayfair Road and Wisconsin Avenue. That crash was “much more serious,” he said, adding that bystanders “quickly rendered aid to those who were injured.” The Wauwatosa Fire Department extinguished the fire and gave aid to people.
A viewer shared with TMJ4 News these photos of the fiery crash on Mayfair Road in Tosa. We just learned it is a deadly crash. Details: https://t.co/PrtFLx6Ft1 pic.twitter.com/Rd9Mp353L1
— TMJ4 News (@tmj4) December 13, 2022
The City of Milwaukee Public Works heavy pickup truck “collided with several vehicles which were stopped in traffic,” said MacGillis.
Scene is still very much active at the corner of Wisconsin and Mayfair in Wauwatosa @620wtmj pic.twitter.com/MajR2OECLQ
— finn (he/him) (@fnnaskn) December 13, 2022
Upon impact, several of the vehicles broke into fire.
Two other people were transported to the hospital with injuries “of unknown severity,” the chief said. All three of the deceased victims were adults.
Major fire and police response in #Wauwatosa at Wisconsin and Mayfair for multi vehicle crash and fire involving a @milwaukeedpw truck. Multiple ambulances at the scene. #WISN12 News pic.twitter.com/U8j7eAgNoj
— Nick Bohr (@NickBohrWISN) December 13, 2022
The circumstances of the crash remain under investigation, he said.
The chief said whether the DPW driver had a medical emergency and what speed the driver was traveling are both details under investigation.
Three people confirmed killed in a fiery crash involving a @milwaukeedpw truck and at least 6 other vehicles at Mayfair Road & Wisconsin Ave in #Wauwatosa. DPW Truck appears to have slammed into vehicles stopped at a stoplight. Witnesses estimate 50-80mph. #WISN12 pic.twitter.com/JWp8INr44Z
— Nick Bohr (@NickBohrWISN) December 13, 2022
According to Channel 12’s Nick Bohr, writing on Twitter, “…DPW Truck appears to have slammed into vehicles stopped at a stoplight. Witnesses estimate 50-80mph. #WISN12.”
