1 dead in 3-vehicle crash in Mount Pleasant

MOUNT PLEASANT, Wis. (CBS 58) -- One person is dead following a crash in Mount Pleasant on Thursday, Feb. 20.

Police said they were called to the area near Durand Ave. and Cozy Acres Road around 10:47 p.m. for a three-car crash.

Once on scene, officers located several people who were hurt and taken to the hospital. Authorities said one of the cars was split in half. The driver of that car was found dead at the scene. The victim is being identified as a 47-year-old woman from Racine. 

Officers believe the car that was split in half crossed into the oncoming lane, hitting two cars traveling the opposite direction.

"(The scene) was like a war zone. There was debris everywhere," said Linda Shain, who lives next to the crash scene.

Another woman sustained serious injuries in the crash. Shain found the woman in her car in the ditch and tried to calm her down while they waited for the ambulance to arrive.

"I pray that she's OK. She seemed like a very sweet young lady and she was scared. And I just don't want to see anybody else get hurt," Shain said.

Dawn Cuccio, who owns a salon on Highway 11, said there have been so many crashes in front of her salon that she's developed a system with the business owner next door.

"I can be calm and so I am the one to call 911, and she usually runs out to see if she can help whoever needs help," Cuccio explained.

Cuccio and Shain said the latest fatality shows enough is enough. They're asking for a stop light to be put in at Cozy Acres Road and Highway 11 to cut down on speeding. They also said the stretch of highway gets dark at night and more street lights should be added.

Anyone with more information about the crash is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.