Barron County (Press Release) - On Friday, July 13, 2012, at 5:45 p.m., the Barron County Sheriff's Department received a call of one vehicle accident at the intersection of 5th Street and 26½ Avenue north of Cumberland in the Town of Maple Plain.
Deputies form the Barron County Sheriff's Department along with the Wisconsin State Patrol, Cumberland Ambulance and Cumberland Fire Department responded to the scene.
Upon arrival, deputies discovered a modified Ford Bronco (no top on the box portion of the vehicle) was traveling south on 5th Street and failed to stop at the sign, hit the ditch and then an embankment causing one of the three occupants to be ejected.
The driver of the vehicle, Wade Richey, 22, of Spooner, was not ejected and refused medical attention at the scene but was later taken to Cumberland Hospital with unknown injuries.
Joseph Rauch, 14, of Birchwood, was ejected and was transported to Cumberland Hospital with severe injuries.
The third occupant Triston Sager, 15, of Birchwood, was not ejected but was in the box area of the vehicle. He was transported to Cumberland Hospital and later taken to Regions Hospital with severe injuries. About 10:30 p.m. the Barron County Sheriff's Department received a call from Regions Hospital stating that Triston had passed away from his injuries.
This accident remains under investigation by the Barron County Sheriff's Department but the initial interview of the driver stated that there was a vehicle malfunction.
