By Frederick Melo
Pioneer Press
CHIPPEWA COUNTY, Wis. — A pre-kindergarten school field trip to an apple orchard near Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, turned tragic on Wednesday when a tractor-pulled hay wagon overturned while rolling downhill, leaving three victims with life-threatening injuries.
In all, at least 17 people — both children and adults — were rushed from the scene by ambulance, and one patient was taken by emergency helicopter. Others were transported to the hospital by personal vehicle. There were no fatalities reported.
WQOW-TV in Wisconsin identified the pre-K as St. Mark Lutheran Church in Eau Claire. Principal Peter J. Micheel issued a brief statement to the television station indicating, “At this time, we are trusting the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Department as their members were at the scene. At this point, we are focusing on reuniting the children with their caregivers. Whenever we face a challenging time, we commit everything to the Lord’s care and trust his guiding hand.”
During a recorded press conference carried online by KSTP News, Chippewa County Sheriff Travis Hakes said the wagon ride took place Wednesday morning at an orchard in Lafayette, Wis., and the incident did not occur on a public street. Two wagons were being pulled by a tractor when one lost control on a downhill slope. KSTP identified the site as the Bushel and a Peck Apple Orchard.
“It’s a parent’s greatest fear that something like that happens to their children, especially when they’re young like that,” Hakes said. “The children were extremely brave, very resilient. … The chaperones and the parents that were at the scene had plans, they had a list of children and contact information that was instrumental in reuniting the parents with the children.”
The incident drew an emergency response from at least 10 agencies, including Mayo Clinic Health Systems, the Chippewa Falls Fire Department and others activated through Chippewa County Emergency Management and the Hospital Readiness Coalition.
In addition to three patients with life-threatening injuries, five people suffered serious injuries, another nine were transported by ambulance and one was taken by helicopter, Hakes said.
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