Four injured in pair of three-vehicle crashes on U.S. Hwy. 8 in Town of Wilson

By Jalen Maki

Tomahawk Leader Editor

TOWN OF WILSON – Four people were injured in a pair of three-car crashes on U.S. Hwy. 8 west of Tomahawk last week.

According to a release from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, on Monday, July 8, at approximately 10:13 a.m., the Lincoln County 911 Center received reports of a three-vehicle crash on U.S. Hwy. 8 and Honey Rd., in the Town of Wilson.

The Sheriff’s Office said preliminary investigation indicated that two vehicles were traveling westbound on U.S. Hwy. 8 when the lead vehicle, operated by Travis W. Schachinger, 34, of Tomahawk, slowed to make a left turn onto Honey Rd. The second vehicle, operated by Josiah N. Cook, 26, of Hartford, failed to slow down and rear-ended Schachinger’s vehicle, causing it to cross into the eastbound lane of traffic, where it was struck by a vehicle being operated by Rebecca D. Schneiderman, 52, of Medford.

One individual was flown to Aspirus Wausau Hospital via MedEvac helicopter, while two others were transported to Aspirus Tomahawk Hospital via ambulance. The Sheriff’s Office did not identify which individual was transported by helicopter and which were transported by ambulance. Schneiderman reported no injuries at the scene, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office said inattentive driving is believed to be the cause of the crash.

Shortly after this crash occurred, the release said, a second crash, also involving three vehicles, took place nearby on U.S. Hwy. 8. This crash was handled by the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office.

Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Sergeant Timothy Johnson said the crash occurred about 100 yards east of the first crash.

According to Johnson, a pickup truck and a white vehicle were stopped due to the first crash when a third vehicle did not slow down and struck the rear end of the white vehicle, causing it to slide forward into the pickup truck.

The operator of the white vehicle sustained injuries and was transported to an area hospital via ambulance.

Johnson said there were no apparent injuries to the other two operators, and they were released. 

The names of those involved in the second crash had not been released as of press time on Monday, July 15.

U.S. Hwy. 8 was closed for nearly three hours as a result of the crashes.