Reconstruction starts in state's worst crash

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. -- Authorities Saturday began the daunting task of reconstructing the state's deadliest car accident, a nightmare of scorched metal that killed 10 people on a foggy interstate.

Up to 45 vehicles crashed over a quarter of a mile stretch of highway Friday, injuring 36 people. State patrol Sgt. John Jones said some cars were hit three or four times, and some were distinguished only by vehicle identification numbers stamped into metal.

"Right now, it's going to be a very slow process," Jones said.

Authorities Saturday released the names of the people killed. All were adults ranging in age from 24 to 63, and two were father and son. The most badly burned bodies were identified through the vehicles in which they were found.

On Saturday, 10 pink and white flowers were placed on a hill overlooking the crash site where debris remained along the roadway, including headlamps, a boot and a charred pair of blue jeans.

"We're really pretty much shell-shocked," said Todd Behling, whose brother Eric died in the accident.

Eight of the injured people remained in hospitals Saturday afternoon. One was in serious condition.

Sheboygan, a city of about 50,000, is a close-knit community, said Kim Hellstrom, a Salvation Army volunteer at a grief counseling center set up for victims' families.

"If someone was hurt or died in the accident, that could affect 20 families," she said.

The crash occurred during morning rush hour on foggy Interstate 43, just west of Lake Michigan. Officials said driver error, going too fast for the weather, figured in the wreck.