BARRON COUNTY, Wis. — A 13-year-old boy and a 54-year-old man were killed, and 12 others were injured in a crash Monday evening in western Wisconsin involving a crowded van.
According to the Barron County Sheriff's Office, the collision occurred at around 5:50 p.m. just north of Ridgeland, Wisconsin, a Dunn County community just 25 miles north of Menomonie. Officials say the van carrying 10 people was traveling north on Highway 25 when it was struck by a car traveling west on County Road A. The van flipped over in a ditch and started on fire. "The car came to rest, upright, in a field," Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said in a Tuesday afternoon update.
The 54-year-old who died was from the Spooner, Wisconsin area and one of the 10 occupants — ranging from eight to 54 years old — riding in the van. The driver of the van, a 54-year-old man from the Rice Lake area, was airlifted and reported to be in critical condition at the time. The other nine occupants were all transported to area hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to serious, according to a release. Sheriff Fitzgerald said all the van occupants were "related to the deceased from the Spooner area."
The 13-year-old who perished was from the Elmwood, Wisconsin area and was one of four teens riding in the car. The 17-year-old driver of the car was taken to the hospital in serious condition. Other passengers in the car, also both 17, were flown to area hospitals in critical condition. "All passengers in the car were related family members" and from the Elmwood area, according to Sheriff Fitzgerald.
A deputy was also transported and released from an area hospital with smoke inhalation. "The injured deputy is at home recovering but needs to be commended for putting herself in harm’s way to get people away from the fire. We would also like to thank the several citizens stopped to help," according to Sheriff Fitzgerald's update.
Highway 25 was closed for four hours, according to authorities.
The Wisconsin State Patrol is investigating the crash.
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