25 injured in tractor and wagon accident during field trip at orchard in western Wisconsin
More than two dozen adults and children were taken to be treated after a tractor accident involving two hay wagons happened at an apple orchard near Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, fire officials said.
Chippewa County Sheriff Travis Hakes said that three people were transported with life-threatening injuries, five people with serious injuries, nine people were transported by ambulance, and at least one person was taken by helicopter. Additionally, he said that some people were taken by private cars.
Sheriff Hakes said that during a field trip at an orchard in Lafayette, small, elementary-aged children, parents and chaperones were on a wagon ride through the orchard when one of the wagons began to lose control while going down a hill.
He said they tried to stop the wagon from going down the hill sideways when it abruptly overturned.
Several mutual aid agencies responded to Bushel and a Peck Market, including a Mayo Clinic helicopter, and a mass casualty protocol was used, Chippewa Fire District Deputy Chief Cory Jeffers said.
Jeffers and Hakes did not specify how many of the 25 injured were children or adults. No one was killed.
WQOW-TV is reporting that Pre-K students from St. Mark Lutheran Church in Eau Claire were on a field trip at the orchard, according to a school calendar and grandparents they talked to.
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has a crew in Chippewa Falls. Reporter Brittney Ermon will have the latest on 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.