Nine individuals lost their lives, and one person was hospitalized on Saturday following a tragic collision between a passenger van and a semi-trailer truck in rural west-central Wisconsin.
The passenger van, carrying nine people, was traveling northbound on a county road when it entered the intersection of Wisconsin State Hwy. 95 near Dewhurst Township, situated approximately 150 miles southeast of Minneapolis and 200 miles northwest of Milwaukee.
The collision occurred around 8 a.m. on Friday, as per a statement from the Clark County, Wisconsin, Sheriff’s Department.
The semi-trailer truck, traveling eastbound on the state highway, collided with the van. The aftermath saw the semi coming to a stop off the highway with its trailer overturned, while the van rested on its side on the roadside. Reports from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel indicated the van sustained fire damage.
Tragically, eight occupants of the van, including the driver, and the semi-truck driver succumbed to the accident. Another van passenger was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital in nearby Marshfield, Wisconsin, for treatment.
9 Dead, 1 Injured in Semi-Van Collision in Rural Wisconsin (Credits: Reddit)
Governor Tony Evers expressed condolences, stating, “Our hearts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of all those involved as well as the first responders who worked quickly to provide support at the scene.”
Responders to the scene included the Clark County Sheriff, Wisconsin State Patrol, Hatfield Fire and Rescue, Neillsville Area Ambulance, and the Clark County Highway Department.
Clark County Coroner Clarissa Rochester pronounced the semi-truck driver and eight van passengers deceased at the scene. Hwy. 95 remained closed for most of the day, reopening after the initial investigation concluded and the vehicles were removed from the accident site.
State and local law enforcement are actively investigating the cause of the wreck.
Identification of the accident victims is pending notification of their family members. According to the sheriff’s department, none of the individuals involved were from the area; they were passing through when the tragic accident unfolded.
