Family expected to recover after semi truck slams into slowed traffic, wedging car upright against second big rig

A family is recovering after a six vehicle pile up caused by the traffic from a fatal motorcycle crash left their car severely smashed between two semi trucks late last month. 

The accident happened on August 18th near Slinger, Wisconsin on southbound Interstate 41. 

According to 12WISN, a 57-year-old motorcyclist was killed in an initial crash, which caused a traffic backup. A semi truck then failed to slow for the stopped traffic and smashed into four cars and another semi truck, leaving one car wedged upright between both tractor trailers. 

“[The vehicle was] in such a disarray that you couldn’t even consider that a car anymore, there’s no way,” said the female victim’s brother, Alex Thill. 

All three people inside of the car, Savannah, Christian, and their 3-year-old daughter, survived the horrific crash, and are now on a long road to recovery after a stay in the ICU. 

“My sister will not be walking for a year. The muscle in your knee that keeps it in natural motion snapped and recoiled up to her thigh,” Thill said. “[My brother-in-law,] has many, many broken bones and, on top of that, a crushed nose.”

“[The 3-year-old] does have a bit of trouble walking, as her knee was messed up; it’s swollen, she has stitches, and a pretty bad concussion,” Thill continued. “There’s no way that someone, especially a 3-year-old, could survive a significant crash like that, but thankfully, by the grace of God and paramedics’ help, they 100 percent did.”

The truck driver that crashed into the stalled traffic has not been cited or charged. The accident is still under investigation.