Dozens injured after cart overturns in Wisconsin apple orchard, authorities say

More than two dozen people were injured, three seriously, after a cart overturned in a Wisconsin apple orchard, authorities said.

The incident was reported Wednesday morning at the Bushel and Peck Apple Orchard in Chippewa Falls.

According to Chippewa County Sheriff Travis Hakes, elementary school-aged children, their parents and other chaperones were on a school field trip at the time and were taking a wagon ride.

A tractor was pulling two wagons at “slow speed” through the orchard, off the public road, when the accident occurred, Hakes said.

One of the cars began to lose control and spin sideways as it was going down a hill and overturned, injuring the children and adults, Hakes said.

“This is a traumatic day for a lot of people,” Hakes told reporters at a press briefing Wednesday afternoon.

Emergency personnel were dispatched to a “tractor accident involving two hay wagons with children and adults,” Chippewa Fire District Deputy Chief Cory Jeffers told reporters.

Firefighters activated their disaster response protocol so outside agencies could respond to the scene, Jeffers said. A Mayo Clinic helicopter was called to the scene, he said.

Twenty-five people were transported from the scene to various agencies, Jeffers said. One patient was transported by helicopter and 22 by ambulance, Hakes said. Others were also transported in personal vehicles, he added.

According to Hakes, three people suffered life-threatening injuries and five were seriously injured.

Marshfield Medical Center-Eau Claire received seven patients following the incident who are being treated for minor to serious injuries, a spokesperson confirmed to ABC News.

Hakes said he believed all patients were in stable condition.

Authorities have not released further details about the victims, including how many were children.

Hakes called the incident “heartbreaking.”

“As a parent, a parent’s biggest fear is that something will happen to their children,” he said.

He said he responded to the scene and helped calm the children and reunite them with their parents.

“The children were extremely brave, very resilient,” he added.

The scene has since been cleared, Jeffers said. All children still at the scene have been reunited with their families, he added.

The children attended St. Mark Lutheran School in Eau Claire, the school’s principal confirmed.

“At this point, we are focused on reuniting the children with their guardians,” Superintendent Peter Micheel said in a statement to ABC News. “Whenever we face a difficult time, we commit everything to the Lord’s care and trust in His guiding hand.”

ABC News left a message with the orchard seeking comment.

Chippewa Falls is located approximately 12 miles northeast of Eau Claire.

ABC News’ Alexandra Faul contributed to this report.