Michael Johnson, Jacob Ruiz Obituary, Death – Two people lost their lives in a tragic head-on collision on Interstate 43 in Manitowoc Rapids, Wisconsin. The Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office has identified the victims and shared preliminary details about the incident.
Authorities stated that Michael Johnson, 76, of Chilton, was driving northbound in the southbound lanes of I-43 when the crash occurred around 1:45 a.m. on Sunday. Johnson’s vehicle collided head-on with a car driven by Jacob Ruiz, 43, of Sheboygan. Both drivers were the sole occupants of their vehicles and were pronounced dead at the scene.
A third vehicle was also involved, striking debris from the collision. Fortunately, the occupants of this vehicle were not injured, according to the sheriff’s office.
The crash took place near the off-ramp at County JJ in Manitowoc Rapids, causing a significant disruption. Interstate 43 remained closed for more than seven hours as authorities worked to clear the scene and gather evidence.
The Wisconsin State Patrol is conducting an ongoing investigation to determine the factors leading to the accident. Further details may emerge as the investigation progresses.
