UPDATED: California trucker killed in two-semi crash

Posted at 2 p.m. on November 25, 2019 The Brillion News TOWN OF MAPLE GROVE – Manitowoc County Sheriff Dan Hartwig said a 55-year old man from San Jose, Calif., lost his life Tuesday in a crash between two tractor-trailer units at County K and County W in Manitowoc County. The crash happened at 1:40 p.m. about three miles south of Wayside and four miles north of Reedsville. The deceased was driving a 2020 Freightliner tractor-trailer eastbound on K when he failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection of County W and into the path of a southbound tractor-trailer with a flatbed trailer carrying a load of raw logs. The California man,Jose Luis Perez, was ejected and died at the scene, despite attempts to revive him by the crew of Valders Ambulance. His death was due to multiple blunt force trauma. He was not wearing a seat belt. The driver of the logging truck, a 27-year old Kiel man, was trapped in the cab of his truck and was seriously injured. He was taken by ambulance to the Aurora BayCare Medical Center in Green Bay and is expected to survive. There was also a fire in the engine compartment of one truck. The roads in the area were closed to all traffic until 6:30 p.m. and were completely reopened around midnight. The crash was violent and there was a large debris field at and around the intersection. Emergency responses to the scene were made by the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, Manitowoc County Coroner’s Office, Wayside Fire Department, Reedsville Fire Department, Valders Fire Department, Valders Ambulance, Brillion Ambulance, Reedsville First Responders, Manitowoc County Highway Department and Hi-Way 42 Garage. “Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this tragic event,” Sheriff Hartwig said.