Authorities say a Minnesota state trooper was involved in a three-vehicle crash that seriously injured a child Wednesday night in Sherburne County.

The Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened just after 9 p.m. on U.S. Highway 10 near 70th Avenue in Clear Lake Township, a few miles southeast of St. Cloud.

The state trooper was responding to a report of a wrong-way driver on Highway 10 when that driver hit another vehicle. The State Patrol squad then hit one or both vehicles involved in the crash, the sheriff’s office said.

Five people were taken to hospitals for treatment after the crash, including a juvenile who suffered life-threatening injuries, the sheriff’s office said. The other four people were expected to be OK.

“All of a sudden we came up and then there’s like, holy buckets,” John VanBruggen, who drove past the crashes as first responders were on scene, said. “As we were going through [we saw] ambulance, ambulance, ambulance,” he added. 

He was in the car with Andrew Lasher as they were heading to St. Cloud. Now, the two say they’ll be keeping those impacted close to heart.

“Everybody, the community involved in praying and everybody grouping together, you know, that’s what we need to do as community, more just being grouped together with people and hug each other,” Lasher said. 

“I don’t know what went on. I don’t really, honestly, completely care. I just hope everybody’s okay, and we can all just be okay through it,” Lasher added. 

The Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation at the State Patrol’s request.

In a statement, State Patrol Col. Christina Bogojevic said the agency is “deeply saddened by the tragic events that occurred last night.”

“Our thoughts are with those affected, and we recognize the profound impact this has on everyone involved,” she said.