Milwaukee DPW driver who died in Wauwatosa crash saved a driver and infant from a car wreck in 2019

Quinn Clark, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·4 min read
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In 2019, Department of Public Works employee Denise Durrah was commended for instinctively rescuing a driver and her infant from a car crash. Durrah died on Tuesday, Dec. 13 after her DPW truck hit into oncoming traffic in Wauwatosa.
In 2019, Department of Public Works employee Denise Durrah was commended for instinctively rescuing a driver and her infant from a car crash. Durrah died on Tuesday, Dec. 13 after her DPW truck hit into oncoming traffic in Wauwatosa.

Years before Denise Durrah's involvement in a fiery fatal crash in Wauwatosa that left her and two others dead, she rescued two strangers involved in a bad accident and was heralded by the City of Milwaukee as a hero.

Family and friends of Durrah's gathered on Milwaukee's north side Thursday night to remember the woman known to be a strong believer in faith.

A group of family and friends gather during a vigil and balloon release for Denise Durrah, 64, Thursday, outside her home at 3162 N. 42nd St., Milwaukee. Durrah was a Department of Public Works driver who died in a car crash Tuesday in Wauwatosa.
A group of family and friends gather during a vigil and balloon release for Denise Durrah, 64, Thursday, outside her home at 3162 N. 42nd St., Milwaukee. Durrah was a Department of Public Works driver who died in a car crash Tuesday in Wauwatosa.

In 2019, Durrah was recognized as a "hero among us" by the city after she rescued a driver and her infant from a crash. When Durrah heard what "sounded like an explosion," she turned around to see a vehicle in midair, which then crashed, landing on its roof, a city employee spotlight piece said.

With the help of bystanders, she removed the child from the vehicle, then used a knife to begin to cut the driver out of her seat belt until emergency personnel arrived at the scene. Because she is a mother and caregiver by nature, her reaction was "instinctive," the piece said.

Milwaukee Department of Public Works employee Denise Durrah died on Tuesday, Dec. 13, after her DPW truck hit into oncoming traffic on Mayfair Road in Wauwatosa. In 2019, the City of Milwaukee recognized her as a "hero" for saving a driver and her infant from a car accident. The cause of the Dec. 13 crash is still under investigation.
Milwaukee Department of Public Works employee Denise Durrah died on Tuesday, Dec. 13, after her DPW truck hit into oncoming traffic on Mayfair Road in Wauwatosa. In 2019, the City of Milwaukee recognized her as a "hero" for saving a driver and her infant from a car accident. The cause of the Dec. 13 crash is still under investigation.

"The Department of Public Works commends Ms. Durrah for her quick action and her selfless and immediate instinct to help others," the city wrote. "She is a hero among us."

Durrah was among three people who died Tuesday in a crash in which Durrah's Milwaukee Department of Public Works heavy-duty pickup truck hit 10 other vehicles. Why she crashed into the other vehicles remains under investigation, and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson on Wednesday said he did not have information on whether a medical issue could have caused the crash.

Mario Miller, 10, from left, Vincent Cockroft and Kim Grant shed tears as a prayer is said Thursday during the vigil and balloon release for Denise Durrah, 64, outside her home at 3162 N. 42nd St., Milwaukee. Durrah was a Department of Public Works driver who died in a car crash Tuesday in Wauwatosa.
Mario Miller, 10, from left, Vincent Cockroft and Kim Grant shed tears as a prayer is said Thursday during the vigil and balloon release for Denise Durrah, 64, outside her home at 3162 N. 42nd St., Milwaukee. Durrah was a Department of Public Works driver who died in a car crash Tuesday in Wauwatosa.

The two other victims were identified by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office as Paul Woida, 85, of Milwaukee and Amy Miller, 40, of Cedarburg, both drivers and sole occupants of two of the vehicles involved. The exact cause of their deaths is still under investigation, the medical examiner's office said.

Durrah's actions in 2019 were highlighted in a message to DPW staff Thursday from Commissioner Jerrel Kruschke.

"She was known to co-workers as a gracious and hardworking person and was even recognized in 2019 for a heroic deed in rescuing a mother and baby," he wrote in the message obtained by the Journal Sentinel.

Durrah started work at the city in April 2018 as a DPW parking enforcement officer before moving in January this year to sanitation services as a city laborer, according to the Department of Employee Relations.

Tamenia Harris, Denise Durrah's niece, takes pictures after balloons were released Thursday at a vigil outside her home at 3162 N. 42nd St., Milwaukee. Durrah was a Department of Public Works driver who died in a car crash Tuesday in Wauwatosa.
Tamenia Harris, Denise Durrah's niece, takes pictures after balloons were released Thursday at a vigil outside her home at 3162 N. 42nd St., Milwaukee. Durrah was a Department of Public Works driver who died in a car crash Tuesday in Wauwatosa.

She then moved in April to street maintenance within the Infrastructure Division, where she was assigned to a pothole filling crew. She had a valid driver's license, according to DPW.

Kruschke wrote that the department is cooperating with Wauwatosa police and extended his sympathies to those who lost loved ones in the crash.

"I met with field staff at DPW Headquarters during their morning meetings Wednesday," he wrote. "Like so many of you in the Department, I recognize the significance and difficulties of their daily duties. Prior to my role as Commissioner, I was the manager of Street Maintenance when Bryan Rodriguez was killed in the field in 2019. And now to hear of another death of a DPW worker, regardless of circumstances, is heartbreaking."

Rodriguez, 54, was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver on the city's north side as he worked as the leader of a street repair crew that was filling a pothole. The driver was arrested and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Durrah was active as a minister at Greater New Birth Church, 8237 W. Silver Spring Drive, and it was apparent from the words spoken at the vigil that Durrah was a strong woman of faith.

"She was heavily involved with the church," said Estelle Cockroft, the organizer of a vigil Thursday night outside Durrah's home in the 3100 block of North 42nd Street.

"She would have wanted us to come together to reference God," Cockroft said. "It don't feel good, it don't look good, but we still believe God. In spite of how we feel ... Denise's desire was always to see others draw closer to God.

"Her legacy that she left behind was her outreach ministry, the love she had for others. We all know that she denied her self for everybody. Everybody done probably lived over here."

The mourners outside Durrah's home, held hands, prayed and sang together. Cockroft said it was important to gather to honor all the lives lost in the crash.

Police ask that any bystanders who witnessed or captured video of Tuesday's crash contact the Wauwatosa Police Department’s Crash Investigation Unit at 414-471-8430.

Reporters Alison Dirr and Drake Bentley of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this story.

Quinn Clark can be emailed at QClark@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Quinn_A_Clark.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee DPW driver who died in crash honored as hero in 2019