Madison Beltline Erupts in Flames After Racing Drivers Trigger Violent Multi-Vehicle Crash, Police Say

MADISON, WISCONSIN – A dangerous burst of reckless racing on the Madison Beltline led to a fiery multi-vehicle crash near Todd Drive, launching one car into westbound lanes and igniting it in flames, according to the Madison Police Department. The chaos shut down multiple lanes for hours as police and firefighters rushed to the scene.

Racing Vehicles Slam Into Innocent Driver

MPD said the crash unfolded around 11:20 a.m. Monday, when two vehicles were seen racing eastbound on the Beltline.
During the speeding contest, one of the racing vehicles collided with an uninvolved driver, pushing that car directly into a semi-truck.

The impact caused the struck vehicle to flip violently over the median into westbound lanes—where it burst into flames.

Photos from 511 Wisconsin show the fiery wreckage blocking lanes as smoke poured into the air.

Suspects Flee Scene; No Arrests Yet

In a shocking twist, witnesses told police that three people jumped out of one of the racing vehicles, ran away on foot, and hopped into another getaway car before fleeing the scene.

Police say no arrests have been made, and the involved suspects remain at large as the investigation continues.

Road Closures Snarl Beltline Traffic for Hours

The fiery crash triggered significant traffic disruption:

• All westbound lanes at Todd Drive were shut down
• Two left eastbound lanes were also closed due to debris and emergency response
• Madison Fire Department warned drivers to expect “heavy delays” because of the investigation and cleanup

By 1 p.m., all lanes had reopened after several hours of congestion.

No Injuries Reported Despite Severity of Crash

Miraculously, MPD confirmed that no one was hurt in the fiery wreck—even though the flipped vehicle was engulfed in flames and traffic was gridlocked around the collision site.

Police also emphasized that this crash is not connected to the separate deadly vehicle fire earlier Monday on Highway 51 near Buckeye Road.

Investigation Ongoing Into Racing Drivers

Authorities are now reviewing traffic cameras, witness statements, and potential dash-cam footage to identify the racing suspects responsible for sparking the fiery crash.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Madison Police.

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