Chippewa County
(WQOW) - Two people
were killed and eight others were injured in a crash in Chippewa County.
It happened Saturday night around 9:30
at the intersection of County Highway B and State Highway 124. A pickup, coming from Eau Claire, with four people inside collided
with a suburban that had six people inside. The sheriff's department says the
suburban failed to stop at the stop sign on County Highway B, and that's when
the collision happened. Investigators
believe the driver of the Suburban may have been drinking. They say the Suburban had left Bresina's Tavern
in Tilden and was headed to a campground. One person died at the scene. Nine others were taken to the hospital, where
a second person died.
DODGE PICKUP:
Driver: Scott Aspengren,
39
Injured: Cole Aspengren,
juvenile
Roger Aspengren, 62
Ranona Aspengren, 59
SUBURBAN:
Driver: Gerald Larson, 67
Died: Karen Larson, 67
Lori Barger, 55
Injured: Doug Kopp, 53
Elizabeth Kopp 50
Jodi Martens 43
The Chippewa County Sheriff's Department
says 67-year-old Karen Larson and 55-year-old Lori Barger were killed. They were both passengers in the Suburban. As
of Sunday afternoon, the sheriff's department believed all were still in the
hospital.
Highway 124 was closed for almost
hours as medical helicopters transported patients to the hospital. We spoke with the sheriff's department late Saturday
night at the scene about the emergency
response.
"The patient care
is obviously the priority, and to get that patient care as quickly as possible
to the scene. That requires a number of different agencies to respond, which
they did. That's what the mutual aid agreements are for, that's what those
pages are for, for additional staff, ambulances, first responders, paramedics,"
says Captain
Gene Gutsch with the Chippewa County Sheriff's Department.
The driver of the suburban, Gerald Larson,
was booked into the Chippewa
County jail Sunday. The
sheriff's department says formal charges are expected to be filed with the
district attorney's office for homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle
and causing injury or great bodily harm by intoxicated use of a motor
vehicle.
More
information is expected to be released Monday.
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Press Release from the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office:
On 09-08-12 at 9:27pm the Chippewa County Sheriffs Dept. was advised of an injury accident which had occurred on STH 124 at the intersection of CTH B. Upon arrival, it was determined that there were a total of 10 subjects injured in a 2 vehicle accident. The agencies listed above responded to the scene. 9 occupants were injured and transported to local hospitals.
1 passenger was pronounced deceased at the scene. STH 124 was closed for nearly 3 hours due to the landing and departure of medical helicopters from the crash scene.
Vehicle #1 was a 2012 Dodge pickup that had 4 occupants and was traveling north on STH 124. All 4 subjects were injured and transported.
Driver: Scott Aspengren 39YOA
Injured: Cole Aspengren Juvenile
Roger Aspengren 62 YOA
Ranona Aspengren 59 YOA
Vehicle #2 was a 2004 Chevrolet Suburban that had 6 occupants and was traveling east on CTH B approaching the intersection of STH 124. 1 passenger pronounced dead at the scene and another passenger pronounced dead at Luther Hospital. The driver and 3 other occupants were transported too for injuries.
Driver : Gerald Larson 67YOA
Deceased: Karen Larson 67 YOA
Lori Barger 55 YOA
Injured: Doug Kopp 53 YOA
Elizabeth Kopp 50 YOA
Jodi Martens 43 YOA
Investigation at this time shows that the 2012 Dodge truck operated by Aspengren was traveling north on STH 124 approaching the intersection of CTH B.
The Chevrolet Suburban operated by Gerald Larson was traveling east on CTH B and failed to stop at the intersection of CTH B and STH 124.
The Chevrolet Suburban operated by Larson was struck in the passenger side as it crossed in front of the pickup truck traveling north on STH 124 operated by Aspengren. Collision caused extensive damage to both vehicles.
Alcohol is believed to be a contributing factor in the crash; legal blood was taken from the operator of the Chevrolet Suburban Gerald Larson.
Formal charges are expected to be filed with the District Attorney's Office for Homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle and causing injury / great bodily harm by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle.
The extent of injuries are not known at the time of this press release however it is believed all injured parties remain hospitalized at this time.
The investigation continues.
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Chippewa County (WQOW)- Emergency crews responded to a fatal car crash at Highway 124 and 105th Avenue in Chippewa County in the town of Eagle Point late Saturday night. Chippewa County Sheriff Captain Gene Gutsch says at least one person is dead and eight others are injured. He says an SUV traveling east on County Road B failed to stop at a stop sign and hit a truck that rolled into a corn field. The SUV slid into a ditch. Three people were airlifted to the hospital while the others were transported there in an ambulance. Authorities say they don't know how severe the injuries are at this time. No names or ages have been released. Deputies are reconstructing the crash to try to figure out more details.
