PORTAGE, Portage County, Wis., Oct. 6, 2026 — A crash involving three commercial vehicles closed westbound Interstate 90 near Portage for more than two hours Monday, October 5, injuring one man, according to the Wisconsin State Patrol's DeForest Post.
The crash happened around 11:45 a.m. near mile marker 106, close to Wisconsin Highway 33. Two semis had slowed for a work zone when a third commercial vehicle reportedly failed to slow in time, striking the second truck and pushing it into the first. The westbound lanes stayed closed until about 2:25 p.m. while crews cleared the scene.
A 41-year-old man suffered what were described as minor injuries and was taken to Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital for treatment. The other two drivers involved, a 48-year-old man from Milwaukee and a 67-year-old man from Brooklyn, Minnesota, were not reported injured. The state patrol withheld all three drivers' names pending notification of family.
The Columbia County Sheriff's Office, the Columbia County Highway Department, Portage Fire Department and Aspirus Divine Savior EMS responded to assist at the scene.
The crash remains under review. We hope everyone who was hurt makes a full recovery.
What Actually Cuts Down on Multi-Vehicle Highway Pileups
Work zones and sudden slowdowns are where a lot of multi-vehicle crashes start, and speed is usually the thread that connects them. When traffic ahead is braking and a following driver is going even a little too fast for conditions, the gap needed to stop safely disappears fast. That gap shrinks further for heavier vehicles like semis, which need more distance to slow down than passenger cars.
Road design has made a real difference here. Better advance warning signs, flashing work zone alerts, rumble strips before lane closures and longer merge tapers all give drivers more time to react before they reach slowed traffic. Dynamic speed feedback signs, which show drivers their actual speed as they approach a slowdown, have also been shown to prompt earlier braking.
Driver behavior still matters just as much as the road itself. Leaving extra following distance in a work zone, especially in a larger vehicle, gives a driver room to slow gradually instead of reacting at the last second. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, passenger vehicles made up 92 percent of registered vehicles and 89 percent of vehicle miles traveled in 2023, a reminder that most of the driving happening around any work zone, in any vehicle class, comes down to ordinary judgment calls about speed and spacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do right after a car accident?
Move to a safe location if possible, check for injuries, and call 911. Exchange information with other drivers and avoid discussing fault at the scene. Photos of the vehicles and surroundings can help later.
Where do most traffic crashes happen?
A large share occur on highways and in work zones where speed differences between vehicles are greatest, as well as at intersections in urban areas. Sudden slowdowns in otherwise fast-moving traffic are a common trigger.
How can drivers lower their risk on the highway?
Keeping extra following distance, especially around work zones or stopped traffic, and adjusting speed early rather than braking hard at the last moment both reduce the chance of a rear-end or chain-reaction crash.
What injuries are common in multi-vehicle crashes?
Whiplash, back and neck strain, and bruising from seatbelts or airbags are frequent even in lower-speed impacts. Occupants can also be thrown against the interior of the vehicle, which may cause head or chest injuries.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Portage, WI
Anyone involved in a crash near Portage should seek a medical check even if injuries seem minor at first, since some symptoms take hours or days to show up. Keep a copy of the police report and any paperwork from first responders or the hospital. If a commercial vehicle was involved, note which agencies responded, since multiple departments may file separate reports. Reporting the crash to your insurer promptly, and keeping your own notes on what you remember, can make the process smoother later.
