ST. CROIX COUNTY, Wis. (WEAU)- Eight tour bus passengers are hurt after a three-vehicle crash in St. Croix County.
The St. Croix County Sheriff's Office responded to the crash on Highway 35 at 200th Avenue in Somerset just before 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 15th.
A preliminary investigation and witness statements indicate a car driven by Hannah R. Erickson, age 19, from Somerset was northbound on STH 35 and going to make a left turn to go west on 200th Ave.
Witnesses said the car stopped suddenly. A SUV driven by Mackenzie M. Marty, age 20, from Somerset was also northbound on STH 35.
To avoid a collision, the she went onto the shoulder of the road around the car, overcorrected, and went into the southbound lane of STH 35.
A tour bus, driven by David A. Harris, age 48, from Ramsey, MN was southbound on STH 35.
The SUV struck the front left side of the bus causing the bus to go into the west ditch and overturn.
Erickson, the driver of the car, was not injured. Marty was evaluated at the scene by EMS personnel and was not transported to the hospital. Eight passengers from the bus were transported by New Richmond EMS and Lakeview EMS to Westfields Hospital in New Richmond and Lakeview Hospital in Stillwater with non-life threatening injuries.
Assisting with this incident were the New Richmond Fire and EMS, Somerset Fire and Rescue, Somerset Police, Lakeview EMS, and the Wisconsin State Patrol.
The bus was traveling from Lindstrom, MN to Warwick, N.Y., as part of a tour. There were 41 people on the bus including the driver.
The crash remains under investigation by the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office.
