Nov. 24, 2017 – Town of Barton, WI – On Friday, Nov. 24 at 10:42 a.m. the Washington County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a pickup truck versus a transit bus accident on Highway 45 southbound south of Cty Tk D in the Town of Barton. Callers reported the bus went off the road into the ditch and possibly rolled.
West Bend Fire and Rescue was dispatched along with Deputies from our office.
The bus was a Washington County Shared Ride Taxi bus. Upon arrival it was laying on the driver’s side outside the shoulder area into the woods. The driver of the bus was out and not injured. He reported the one and only passenger was trapped inside. The pickup truck involved was located pulled over on the side of the road approximately .2 mile south of the bus. This vehicle was occupied by a male driver and female passenger who were later transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital via ambulance due to their reported injuries.
West Bend Fire used an inflation device to lift the bus up so the passenger’s leg could be freed from underneath the bus. The passenger was taken to an ambulance for treatment while Flight for Life was called to the scene. The passenger was then flown to Froedtert due to the extent of her injuries. During this time there was a full closure of Highway 45 in both directions to allow for Flight for Life landing and take-off.
A preliminary investigation showed the bus and pickup truck were southbound in the right lane with the bus in front of the pickup truck. The pickup truck came upon the bus and then swerved into the left lane, but collided with the rear driver’s side corner of the bus causing it to spin out of control.
At this time Highway 45 southbound remains closed to traffic to allow the Washington County Accident Reconstruction Team to investigate. There are no updates available on the bus passenger or pickup truck occupants and there is no further information being released at this time.
