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MILWAUKEE, Milwaukee County, Wis., Oct. 1, 2026 — Multiple people, including two Milwaukee police officers, were taken to hospitals after a three-vehicle crash early Tuesday morning, September 29, on Milwaukee's north side. The collision involved a car, a Milwaukee County Transit bus, and a parked police patrol vehicle.
The Milwaukee Police Department said the crash happened around 4:43 a.m. in the 3500 block of W Center Street. Investigators said traffic lights at the intersection of N 35th Street and W Center Street were not working at the time because the signal had reportedly been vandalized.
According to MPD, a car heading west on W Center Street and a bus heading south on N 35th Street both entered the intersection and collided. A marked MPD patrol vehicle was parked nearby on W Center Street with its emergency lights on, the department said. After the initial impact, the bus struck the parked squad car and went into a ditch.
The bus driver, 69, and a 52-year-old passenger were not hurt, police said. A second bus passenger, 48, suffered a minor injury and was taken to a hospital. The driver of the car, 62, was also hospitalized with a minor injury. Two officers in the patrol vehicle, ages 29 and 32, were taken for evaluation of possible injuries. MPD said no other injuries were reported.
The department has not released a cause for the crash beyond the malfunctioning signal, and the incident remains under investigation.
We hope everyone who was hurt makes a full and speedy recovery.
What Actually Reduces Multi-Vehicle Pileups at Intersections
Crashes that pull in several vehicles at once often come down to spacing, not just speed. When drivers leave only a car length or two between themselves and the vehicle ahead, a single hard stop or an unexpected entry into an intersection can set off a chain reaction before anyone has time to react. The faster the lead vehicles are moving and the tighter the gaps behind them, the farther that chain tends to spread.
Engineering changes have shown real results in reducing these events. Roundabouts naturally slow traffic and eliminate the kind of right-angle crossing that produces some of the worst multi-vehicle crashes. Better signal timing, backup power for traffic lights, and quick repair of vandalized or malfunctioning signals all reduce the window where drivers have to guess who has the right of way. Median barriers and improved lighting help too, especially at night and in the early morning hours when visibility is lowest, and fatigue is highest.
Driver behavior still matters alongside the infrastructure. Keeping a longer following distance gives a driver more time to stop or steer around trouble instead of adding to it. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 1,947,298 passenger-vehicle occupants were injured in motor-vehicle traffic crashes in 2023, a number that reflects how often ordinary intersections and roadways produce injury crashes every day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do chain-reaction crashes happen?
They usually start with one vehicle stopping suddenly or entering a path it shouldn't, and vehicles following too closely behind don't have enough room or time to stop, compounding the collision.
How can drivers avoid being caught in a pileup?
Leaving extra space between your vehicle and the one ahead, slowing down in low-visibility or malfunctioning-signal conditions, and staying alert near intersections where lights or signs may not be working all help reduce the chance of getting pulled into a multi-vehicle crash.
What should I do if I'm stopped near a crash on the highway or at an intersection?
Turn on hazard lights, stay inside the vehicle if it's unsafe to exit near traffic, and move as far from moving lanes as possible while waiting for help to arrive.
How does fog or low visibility contribute to pileups?
Reduced visibility, whether from fog, darkness, or a non-functioning traffic signal, shortens the time drivers have to recognize a hazard and react, increasing the likelihood that following vehicles will collide with those ahead of them.
What to Do After a Multi-Vehicle Crash in Milwaukee, WI
If you're involved in or witness a multi-vehicle crash, move to a safe area if possible and call 911 right away. Even minor injuries can take hours to become noticeable, so it's worth getting checked by a medical professional soon after the crash, even if you feel fine at the scene.
Exchange information with other drivers involved and, if it's safe to do so, take photos of vehicle positions, damage, and any relevant road conditions, such as a malfunctioning signal. Cooperate with responding officers and request a copy of the official crash report once it's available. Milwaukee residents can follow up with the police department's records division for documentation needed for insurance or medical claims.
