CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. — Three people were transported to a hospital with "life-threatening" injuries after a hay wagon overturned during a field trip Wednesday morning at an apple orchard in western Wisconsin.
According to Chippewa County Sheriff Travis Hakes, several elementary school students and chaperones were on a field trip to Bushel and a Peck Orchard in the town of Lafayette, about 10 miles southwest of Chippewa Falls. While on a tractor ride through the orchard, Hakes said one of the wagons lost control going down a hill, and overturned.
Hakes wouldn't comment on the age of the three people who suffered life-threatening injuries, but said there were five other people who were in "serious" condition, and nine others were transported by ambulance to nearby hospitals. Hakes added that at least one person was transported by helicopter and some other patients who transported themselves independently to be medically evaluated.
"As a parent myself, it's a parent's greatest fear that something happens to their children, especially when they're young like that," said Hakes. "I can tell you that the children were extremely brave. Very resilient and extremely brave."
Emergency responders reported dozens of patients, prompting crews to enact Mass Casualty Protocols because there were more patients than available resources.
"Even bringing in our outside agencies, that's overwhelming us," said Chippewa Falls Fire District Deputy Chief Cory Jeffers when asked about the Mass Casualty Protocols. "That puts extra manpower on... notifying the hospitals of that enacts their Mass Casualty Protocol, which brings more resources into the hospitals to help treat all the patients."
Multiple departments responded to the scene, including a Mayo Clinic chopper.
KARE 11 will update this story as more information is made available.