MADISON, Wis. – A devastating vehicle fire on the frontage road of Highway 51 at Buckeye Road on Monday resulted in the tragic death of one individual, as confirmed by the Madison Fire Department. Emergency crews arrived at the scene just before 11:45 a.m. to find the vehicle engulfed in flames after colliding with a tree.
Despite the efforts of firefighters who managed to extricate the person from the vehicle, they were unfortunately pronounced dead on the scene. The identity of the deceased has not been disclosed, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Due to the incident, US 51 northbound from Pflaum Road to Buckeye Road has been closed, with a WisDOT alert issued at around 12:20 p.m. regarding the traffic disruption. Local resident Lauren Brinkman, of Underdog Pet Rescue, noted significant backups on the highway, recognizing the severity of the incident around 2 p.m.
In a separate occurrence at the same time, law enforcement responded to another multi-vehicle crash and fire on the Madison Beltline at Todd Drive. Authorities have stated that this incident does not appear to be connected to the Highway 51 fire.
The Madison Police Department is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the vehicle fire, with assistance from the Dane County Sheriff’s Department. As investigations continue, the community is urged to stay informed about road conditions and safety updates.