Vehicle Fire on Highway 51: One Dead in Madison Blaze
A tragic vehicle fire on Highway 51 claimed the life of one individual on Monday. The incident occurred on the frontage road at Buckeye Road, leading to significant disruptions in traffic.
Details of the Incident
The Madison Fire Department (MFD) responded to the scene shortly before 11:45 a.m. Firefighters discovered a single person inside a vehicle, who was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. The circumstances surrounding the fire remain under investigation.
Investigation and Traffic Impact
- The Madison Police Department reported that the vehicle struck a tree before igniting.
- The identity of the deceased has not been disclosed.
- The cause of the vehicle fire has not yet been determined.
- US 51 northbound was closed from Pflaum Road to Buckeye Road following a WisDOT alert issued around 12:20 p.m.
Local resident Lauren Brinkman, associated with Underdog Pet Rescue, noted the increasing traffic congestion resulting from the incident. “By around 2 p.m., it was clear how backed up everything had become,” she stated.
Concurrent Incident Reports
During the same timeframe, law enforcement was also attending to a separate multi-vehicle crash and fire on the Madison Beltline near Todd Drive. Authorities assured the public that these two incidents are not related.
The investigation into the vehicle fire on Highway 51 continues, with the Dane County Sheriff’s Department actively involved in the response. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
