On 9/16/19 at 07:22am, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department received a report of a 4 to 5 vehicle crash on Hwy 80N at McDougal Ln. Reports indicated a school bus, a semi and several cars were involved. It was extremely foggy at the time of the crash.
Sheriff’s Deputies, Richland Center Fire & Richland County EMS responded. According to the investigation by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, 3 vehicles were stopped in the Northbound lane of Hwy 80 at McDougal Ln for a school bus in the process of picking up student’s that had its red lights flashing. A semi tanker truck, operated by 32 year old Gary W. Olson of Sparta, was Northbound on Hwy 80 when he stated he did not see the flashing reds lights on the bus or the vehicles stopped in the roadway due to the dense fog.
As Olson approached the area, he applied the brakes and attempted to steer the semi into the gravel on the right side of the roadway. This caused the semi trailer to slide sideways to the left. The semi trailer collided with the rear of a 2018 Jeep Compass operated by 81 year old Everett A Crine of Cazenovia. The impact pushed the Crine vehicle forward where it struck the rear of a 2014 Chrysler minivan operated by Barbara J. Olson, age 48 of Richland Center. The Crine vehicle continued forward, striking a third vehicle, a 2012 Chevrolet Impala operated by Kristin Kauffman of Richland Center. The Olson and Crine vehicles suffered extensive damage and were towed from the scene. Everett Crine was injured and transported to the Richland Hospital by Richland County EMS. He was later transferred to a La Crosse hospital. His condition is not known at this time. The school bus, owned by Kubbussen Bus Service was not directly involved in the crash and none of the students on board were injured.
Gary Olson was cited for driving too fast for conditions and for failure to wear a seatbelt.
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AUTHORITY: Chief Deputy Chad Kanable