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More than six
inches of heavy wet snow plastered parts of the Midwest Saturday causing
several car accidents, delays at airports and a fatal car accident on
Interstate 90/94 near DeForest.

A 37-year-old
Madison man died after his Jeep collided with a semi trailer from behind as the
semi slowed for the conditions according to Sgt. Candy Konz of the Wisconsin
State Patrol.

The accident at
around noon Saturday was one of many in the area according to Konz.

"There were many
[accidents] and a lot of runoffs," Konz said. "People were driving way too fast
for the conditions."

Konz said there
were also three fatalities in Columbia County around noon Sunday on Highway 33.
There were also two fatal accidents near Mauston, according to Konz.

As cleanup crews
worked around the clock to ensure highways were clear, Konz said there are still
dangerous driving conditions on smaller county roads.

"The interstate
system looks like in good winter driving conditions," Konz said. "On county
roads still [drivers] need to be careful."

Madison
officials declared a snow emergency Saturday that remained in effect until 7
a.m. this morning after roads became dangerous for drivers, according to George
Dreckman, spokesperson for the Madison Streets Division.

"We should have
everything done [by then]," Dreckman said. "We will not be extending the snow
emergency."

The snow
emergency activates alternate side street parking according to City Council
President Mike Verveer, who said students should park on the side of the street
correlating with the date between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m.

"So students
should park on the odd side of the street Monday because it's the third,"
Verveer said. "It's a pain now, but the idea is to get them to park better
after the snow is cleared, so it's the compromise we have to make."

Verveer said
part of the compromise also allows vehicles to park for free in city parking
garages overnight during a snow emergency until 7 a.m.

According to the
Associated Press, dozens of flights were canceled at the Dane County Regional
Airport as well as Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee.

Also during Saturday
afternoon an incoming Mesa Airlines regional jet flying for United Express slid
off the pavement after missing a turn onto a taxi way.

The airline
reported no injuries to the 25 passengers on the plane.

— Bridget Roby contributed to this report.