2 motorcycle riders killed in Highway 47 accident

Two people on a motorcycle are dead after a three-vehicle crash June 5 on state Highway 47 required detouring traffic for four hours.

Deputies with the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department witnessed a motor vehicle crash involving the motorcycle, a pickup truck and a minivan just after noon on the highway near Highline Road in the Town of Hartland, Lt. Jesse Sperberg reported. According the evidence at the scene and witness statements, a pickup truck was southbound when a motorcycle struck the rear of the pickup truck, causing the motorcycle to cross into northbound traffic, the motorcycle was then struck by a minivan.

The motorcycle was operated by a 36-year-old man and a 13-year-old passenger, both from Appleton. Both were deceased upon initial contact by law enforcement. The van was driven by a 71-year-old Shawano man and a 64-year-old Shawano woman was a passenger, and both were transported to hospitals with serious injuries. The pickup truck was driven by a 65-year-old Black Creek man, who was uninjured.

Highway 47 was closed to traffic until almost 4:30 p.m. for crash reconstruction. No additional information will be released at this time, according to Sperberg.