The family of Derek William Schwarting, 25, who died in a seven-vehicle crash at the busy intersection of East Broadway and Monona Drive in Monona, Wisconsin, on March 24, 2026, are mourning his death. He had been stopped at a red light when a full-size pickup truck traveling eastbound on East Broadway accelerated into the line of vehicles waiting ahead of him.
The crash occurred just after 12:12 p.m. Authorities later determined that the driver of the pickup truck had lost consciousness due to a medical emergency, causing the vehicle to speed uncontrollably into the stopped traffic.
The crash also caused injuries to six additional persons, ranging from minor to severe. Officials said that one patient who was first categorized as critically ill eventually stabilized. Derek was sent to a nearby hospital, but his wounds were too serious. Shortly after, he passed away.
Derek’s injuries from the collision were found to be the cause of his death by the Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office. Investigators stressed that the tragedy was caused by an unexpected medical emergency rather than careless driving or intoxication. Authorities have not filed any criminal charges against the pickup truck driver, who was also taken for a medical assessment.
Derek was a great quarterback at McFarland High School, where he established several school records that are still in place. He graduated in 2019. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse with a magna cum laude degree in physics, he worked as a project manager at Globalcom Technologies. He is described by friends and family as kind, motivated, and devoted to giving back, including via philanthropic endeavors.
His death has deeply affected the McFarland and Monona communities. Those who knew him are struggling to understand how a young man with so much promise could be taken by a crash that no one saw coming. The intersection of East Broadway and Monona Drive has since reopened, the debris cleared, the traffic flowing as it always has. But for the people who loved Derek, the silence is heavy.
As the investigation continues, community members have expressed grief and disbelief. For Derek’s family, the answers will not bring him back. They are left to plan a funeral, to hold onto the memories of a young man who was loved, to carry forward the example he set of hard work and compassion.
The tragedy has renewed conversations about emergency preparedness and roadway safety, but for now, the focus is on honoring Derek Schwarting’s memory and supporting the others who were injured in the crash. The intersection is quiet now, but the loss is still echoing, a reminder that life can change in a second, on a busy road, at a red light, when no one is expecting it.