3 people hurt after collision between pickup truck, transit bus on US 45 in Washington County



WASHINGTON COUNTY -- Three people were hurt after a collision on southbound US 45 in the Town of Barton on Friday morning, November 24th.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office says around 10:45 a.m., dispatchers were notified of a collision between a pickup truck and transit bus. It happened in the southbound lanes just south of County D.

The bus was a Washington County Shared Ride Taxi bus. Officials say when deputies arrived on the scene, the bus 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 West Bend Fire Department 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 Hospital.

The pickup truck involved was located pulled over on the side of the road about a quarter-mile south of the bus. This vehicle was occupied by a male driver and female passenger who were later taken to a hospital with injuries.

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.

The Washington County Accident Reconstruction Team is investigating this crash.