Burlington, News

Crash victim identified

This vehicle was one of two involved in a serious crash Tuesday night at the Burlington bypass intersection of Highway 36 and 83. (Photo by Jennifer Eisenbart)
This vehicle was one of two involved in a serious crash Tuesday night at the Burlington bypass intersection of Highway 36 and 83. (Photo by Jennifer Eisenbart)

21-year-old Burlington man dies in two-vehicle crash

Tyler Brott, 21, of the Town of Burlington, died as a result of a two-vehicle crash in Burlington Tuesday night, according to the Racine County Sheriff’s office.

The driver of the other vehicle, David Henning, 55, also of the Town of Burlington, suffered serious — but not life-threatening — injuries, sheriff’s officials said.

The two drivers were the only occupants of their respective vehicles.

Here is the original post regarding the crash:

The Racine County Sheriff’s Department confirmed at about 9:15 p.m. Tuesday night that there was one fatality in the crash on the Burlington Bypass.

Rescue personnel responded to the two-vehicle collision, which happened about 6:45 p.m. Tuesday. One car and a pickup truck from an area landscaping firm were involved in the accident. A fatality was confirmed by Sheriff Christopher Schmaling, as well as one injury that was taken by Flight for Life to Froedtert Hospital, Wauwatosa.

Sheriff’s investigators remained on the scene late Tuesday evening. The Racine County Medical Examiner’s office was also on scene.

Please stay tuned to www.myracinecounty.com for more information and see the full story in Thursday’s Burlington Standard Press.

UPDATE: According to a press release issued by the Sheriff’s Office, the victim in the crash is a 21-year-old man. The driver who was taken to Froedtert is a 56 -year-old man. Preliminary investigation shows speed and possible failure to obey a traffic signal were factors in the crash.

UPDATE: City of Burlington Mayor Bob Miller said that the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will begin installation of left turn signals at the intersection next week. Miller said this has been raised to the DOT in the past two years, but a shift in funding kept the turn signals from being installed sooner. “It’s unfortunate that we had the amount of accidents we’ve had there before the situation is being addressed,” Miller said.

14 Comments

  1. The problem is the state went cheap on the traffic lights. The turn lane light turns green with the pass through lane lights and you are expected to know to yield to on coming traffic. But people see a green light in the turn lane and think they have the right of way. Money could have saved this life.. Make the turn lane light an independent arrow light like every other lighted intersection in the state!! Needs to happen today not years from now!!!!

    • I agree David. I myself, when the bypass was fairly new, almost caused an accident while I was in the left turn lane to go south on 83 from westbound 36. Light turned green I just went and caused a semi to lock them up. Scared the heck out of me and then I wondered what the heck I was doing. There was no arrow why did I do that? I’ve never been in one accident in 29 years of driving and consider myself a decent driver. Like you said I just think it is one of those things people are used to. Something needs to be fixed at that intersection for sure.

      • Update!!The Mayor just called me. The DOT just agreed to fix lights at both Hyw 11 and 83 within the next two weeks!!!!

  2. I live near this MAJOR intersection, I am dumbfounded why there are over passes for the other minor intersections but NOT at this very busy interchange. Most likely the answer is monetary.

  3. The mayor said “it is unfortunate…..” A 21 year old lost his life. I would say that it’s more than “unfortunate”. I too have almost had a similar accident there and wondered right up until today why. Now it makes sense. The residents of this area owe the Brott family a debt of gratitude and grief that can never be repaid.

  4. I am Tyler Brott’s cousin. Hearing and seeing this has brought an even heavier heart for myself and our family knowing that this simple fix that could have been taken care of years ago could have saved his young life. We were informed that there had been many accidents in that area; there was no arrow, no camera, nothing for the safety of the citizens in that area put in place. Because of this my family is still trying to figure out who may have been at fault and have to attempt to believe the one witness testimony we heard on Wisconsin 12 news. As we can no longer bring our family member back we do pray that they do something about that area soon to spare the lives of others.
    Thanks Nikki for your thoughts to our family.

    • Ty nicki..your support has help the family out so much..I know I’m not with wlthe brott family anymore ..but I watch you and Tyler grow up….your a wonderful girl. …my heart goes out to tim and dawn and to uncle vic and aunt connie…..pam

    • They finally started fixing the intersection today.

      • They put in yellow flashing arrows; basically telling anyone to go at their own risk. It has not helped. Tyler’s step sister went to visit the crash site just the other day and witnessed an accident at the same intersection when it was “fixed.” She had to stay and talk to the police as she was a witness; she had to testify an accident while grieving for part of her family she lost at the same area not long before. If the community keeps trying to cheap out on fixing the problem they are clearly not taking care of the people in the Burlington area. That is too big of an intersection to not have proper signal lights. When I found out how they attempted to fix this intersection and finding out there was yet another accident (luckily nobody was severely injured)I’m utterly frustrated. People and property should not be at stake because of the community trying to find the cheapest way to solve a problem.

  5. The city was warned about this railroad crossing several years ago and were cautioned that upgraded gates/signals be installed there.

    But the city leaders balked and ignored this request, which would have made it impossible for a vehicle to circumvent the gates and signals when a train was coming down the tracks.

    Is this what it takes for elected officials to heed the state’s warning about this, is for a life too be lost?

    Shame on all of you officials who served on the city council at that time and simply washed your hands of it by ignoring the state’s request to upgrade that crossing.

    But that’s small city politics for you, of as the adage goes, “A day late and a dollar short.”

    Mark Dudzik
    A TBI survivor since 9/17/11 and a high-functioning one at that!