WAUSAU PILOT AND REVIEW
HINELANDER – A three-car crash Thursday morning near Rhinelander sent five people to the hospital and completely blocked traffic on Highway 8, according to a WJFW report.
The crash happened just before 11 a.m. near the highway’s intersection with North Rifle Road, just west of Rhinelander.
An Oneida County Sheriff’s Deputy on scene told WJFW a westbound car crossed the center line, hitting an eastbound SUV. That sent the SUV spiraling into the ditch. A Chevrolet truck, also headed westbound, got caught in the collision and rolled over.
Citizens on scene reported serious injuries and that airbags were deployed, according to the Oneida Count Sheriff’s Department. The vehicles involved were a 2001 Crown Victoria, a 2018 Volvo, and a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado. The operator of the Volvo was transported by ambulance to St. Mary’s Hospital as well as the operator of the Silverado. The operator of the Crown Victoria was transported by ambulance to the Oneida County/Rhinelander Airport and transferred to a helicopter and flown to Aspirus in Wausau. Both passengers of the Crown Victoria were transported to St. Mary’s Hospital. The front passenger was later flown to another hospital by helicopter, police said.
Those taken to the hospital include two men, two women, and a teenage boy.
Witnesses tell Wausau Pilot and Review a medical helicopter was at the scene.
Highway 8 was completely closed between North Rifle Road and Highway 47 and emergency responders set up a detour.
WJFW contributed to this report.
