1 Dead In 131-Car Pileup On I-41: Watch

WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WI — Authorities in Winnebago County say gale-force winds and whiteout conditions caused a massive 131-car pileup, at just after 11 a.m. Sunday, on I-41 at Highway G in Neenah. Authorities reported that one person died in the crash, and 71 people were injured.

According to the Winnebago County Sheriff's office, the crash began just after 11:20 a.m. Sunday after authorities alerted people to stay off the roads due to high winds, blowing snow, and zero visibility on northern Wisconsin roadways.

Winnebago County Sheriff John Matz held a press conference Sunday, saying that 66 people were treated for minor injuries as cars, trucks and semis collided one-after-another on I-41 earlier that day. Five people were admitted to area hospitals for more serious treatment, Matz said during the press conference.

Matz said, "I'm not going to be able to speculate as to what happened or what resulted in the chain of events. It's going to take us weeks to try to determine what occurred."

Matz said officials are advising the public to avoid that stretch of I-41. "It's essentially closed indefinitely," he said.