Pickup driver survives 70-foot plunge off highway in Milwaukee

A pickup truck, that was traveling east on the Interstate 94 Zoo Interchange outside of Milwaukee, Wisc., hit a pile of snow on the right side of the ramp, forcing it over the barrier wall to fall 70 feet onto the highway below, reported WISN 12 ABC.

The incident was caught on a Wisconsin Department of Transportation camera right before 10 a.m. Saturday.

The truck landed upright in the direction of I-94 westbound.

When police arrived at the accident scene, a few passersby were helping the driver. He was conscious and did not show any signs of impairment, according to deputies. He was taken to an area hospital for treatment. I-94 westbound and all of the ramps were closed for several hours due to the accident cleanup and investigation.

The highway interchange is nicknamed the Zoo Interchange because the Milwaukee County Zoo is located on the northwest -quadrant of the interchange. It the busiest and one of the oldest interchanges in the state.

WISN 12 was told the Milwaukee County prioritizes snow removal by the height of the road above the ground. “The biggest risk is the melting and the freezing creates sort of a ramp, a natural ramp,” Milwaukee County’s Director of Highways and Maintenance Eddie Santiago said.

Santiago also said that crews work in shifts, 24 hours a day. They also use front-end loaders to haul the snow away.