Oshkosh, United States – May 24, 2019 / Felix Auto & Tire, LLC /

With such a tough winter closely nearing it’s final end in Wisconsin, Wisconsites can finally breathe a little as they welcome in the summer warmth. Living in central Wisconsin often feels like the sun hates you. Eight months out of the year, the sun is doing everything that it can to avoid burning your skin. However, summer…summer is when Wisconsin gets to thumb it’s nose at that great big ball of fiery, gas, and frolic in the green that is shooting up everywhere around this state!

Winter of 2018/2019 has certainly been one for the record books. Snowfall records, temperature records, windchill records, this state won lots of medals for crappy weather this year. Yay Wisconsin – you won at being crappy… On top of all of the awesome records that were broken, NE Wisconsin had a 131 vehicle pileup on Hwy 41 between Oshkosh and Neenah on February 24th. This major accident injured 71 people and resulted in one fatality.

Leading up to this accident, authorities had warned drivers to steer clear of driving on that Sunday for basically half of the state due to whiteout conditions. But, everywhere across Wisconsin, driving conditions were sketchy at best.

This accident that is now one for the record books occurred around 11:20 in the morning in the southbound lanes of Hwy-41. Vehicles including semi trucks, cars, and pickup trucks were all pancaked on top of each other and smashed together. Many of the injuries occurred from drivers exiting their vehicles instead of staying put.

911 Dispatchers quickly sent ambulances from the city of Oshkosh northbound in the southbound lanes to reach the travelers in duress. Towing companies from the cities of Oshkosh and Neenah were busy for hours pulling vehicles to staging areas and then moving them from staging areas along the highway to repair shops to await insurance estimations.

“Been in the law enforcement business — this is the 27th year,” Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Todd Christopherson said. “On scene, that was the worst conditions these eyes have ever seen.”

We briefly spoke with local Oshkosh towing company owner, Eric Felix of Felix Auto & Tire about this accident. “It was pandemonium out there when we first began pulling up on the scene. Quickly with county law enforcement, state patrolmen, and city law officers driving in to help from Neenah and Oshkosh, people were able to be triaged and moved to safe places where they could warm up.” When asked how many vehicles Felix Auto towed, Eric responded, “Don’t fully remember, but it was quite a few.”

Towing company operators like Felix are happy to see the warm weather roll around with the season changes. “Sure, we enjoy towing Oshkosh area residents and travelers when the weather warms up like it has been doing, but don’t get it twisted…there are a ton of crazy drivers that come out when the sun comes out. Seems like we have more weird towing situations in the summer than we do in the winter.”

Well, here’s to you summer. Let’s tip back a glass of sunny lemonade…or your favorite lemon shandy…or vodka. What the hell, a long stressful winter is finally over. Vodka…it’s vodka. So, let’s tip back a bottle of vodka and tip our hat to summer. Because…well…it’s summer in Wisconsin. Enough said.

If you’re a visitor and would like to know more about this crazy state of Wisconsin, visit this wonderful online resource. For more information on Felix Auto & Tire, visit their website, or contact them at: Felix Auto and Tire, LLC 1850 W Fernau Ave. Oshkosh, WI 54901 (920) 267-8334. Felix Auto & Tire is the towing service Oshkosh WI residents trust with their vehicles. Call them today to schedule your brake job, alignment, transmission repair, tire service, oil change and more.