Car hits schoolbus in town of Norrie

By: 
Miriam Nelson
News Editor

Norrie - No one on the bus was injured in an accident involving a Wittenberg-Birnamwood school bus and a passenger vehicle Wednesday at 7 a.m. on County Highway Y near County Highway D in the Township of Norrie, the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office reported.

The operator of the passenger vehicle sustained injuries and is receiving medical attention at a local hospital. Eight elementary school students were on the bus. The crash is currently under investigation.

Marathon County deputies, Hatley EMS/fire units, and the Wisconsin State Patrol responded to this crash.

Wittenberg-Birnamwood Superintendent Garrett Rogowski stated that in his conversation with bus driver, Marie Frietag, the passenger vehicle was fishtailing and lost control before hitting the bus head-on while on a bridge over the Plover River.

Rogowski noted that Freitag handled the situation extremely well.

“She did a great job getting preparing for the collision ensuring the safety of the kids,” said Rogowski. “She contacted 911 and the administrative office at the school and did an excellent job controlling the situation.”

Rogowski, Transportation Director Paul Yaeger and High School Principal Bill Hass were on the scene to help comfort the students and contact the parents. The EMS crew examined and assessed Freitag and all of the students.

According to Rogowski, Yaeger took the students to the Birnamwood School on a different bus. Since it was early in the route, he also arranged for other drivers to complete the route of the immobilized bus.

School nurse Rebecca Wendell met with each of the students to check on and interview them. She also spoke with the parents to answer any questions and concerns, said Rogowski.

The bus was towed to a garage in Wausau; damage has not yet been assessed.

This crash is currently under investigation by the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office.