VERNON COUNTY, Wis. (WEAU) – A three-vehicle crash was reported to the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office Sunday, September 28, at 10:45 a.m.
According to a press release from the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office, the crash occurred on State Hwy 27 near the intersection of Erickson Rd. in the Town of Christiana.
A vehicle with a trailer attached was traveling south, operated by 61-year-old Terry Erickson. Erickson was stopped at a private driveway signaling a left turn, waiting for northbound traffic to clear.
54-year-old Suzanne Bassette was also traveling south behind Erickson’s vehicle. Bassette was alerted to a southbound semi-truck, operated by a 17-year-old, who was not slowing down. Bassette took evasive action by steering right to avoid a collision.
The semi-truck driver attempted to stop and the semi began to jackknife, striking the utility trailer of Erickson’s vehicle and detached it. The semi-truck also struck a car driven by 68-year-old John Sharp.
The semi-truck driver was ejected, sustained serious injuries and was flown to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Sharp was also injured and had to be extricated from his vehicle. He was taken to Gundersen Health System in La Crosse.
Bassette was not injured nor was her vehicle damaged when it left the roadway.
38-year-old Justin Clark was also traveling north behind Sharp’s vehicle and took evasive action by maneuvering to the right, leaving the roadway and coming to a stop in a field along the east side of the roadway. Neither Clark nor his passengers were injured. There was no apparent damage to his vehicle either.
The highway was closed until shortly after 6 p.m.