April 26, 2026
COON VALLEY, Wis. — The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office is providing additional details regarding a school bus and semi‑truck crash that occurred Thursday afternoon, April 23, 2026, on U.S. Highway 14 near Coon Valley.
Shortly after 3 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch Center was notified of a two‑vehicle collision at the intersection of U.S. Highway 14 and Brye Lane in the Town of Hamburg, within the Westby Area School District.
A 29‑passenger school bus operated by David Carl Aberg, 69, of rural Viroqua, was traveling south on Brye Lane and stopped at U.S. Highway 14 to wait for traffic to clear before making a left turn to head eastbound. Approximately three seconds after starting the turn, the right front corner of the bus struck the left side of an eastbound semi‑tractor/trailer operated by Ramanpreet Singh, 50, and owned by a Verona‑based company.
The semi‑truck driver attempted to avoid the collision by steering onto the unpaved shoulder, a maneuver that significantly reduced the severity of the crash. Both vehicles remained under control and came to rest on the eastbound shoulder.
At the time of the crash, 10 students from the Westby School District were on the bus. All individuals involved were checked by emergency responders, and no injuries were reported.
The Sheriff’s Office worked closely with the school district and emergency personnel to notify parents. Some students were picked up at the scene by parents, while others were transported home on another school bus.
Traffic on U.S. Highway 14 was reduced to one lane while crews worked at the scene and was fully cleared by approximately 4:30 p.m.
Assisting at the scene were the Coon Valley Fire Department, Coon Valley Emergency Medical Responders, Tri‑State Ambulance/Gundersen Ambulance, and other emergency personnel.
The incident remains under investigation by the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office in cooperation with the Westby Area School District.
The Sheriff’s Office appreciates the quick response of emergency crews and the cooperation of motorists during the lane closure and is grateful that no one was injured.
Previous Story
April 24, 2026
COON VALLEY, Wis. — A school bus carrying children from the Westby School District collided with a semi-truck Thursday afternoon on U.S. Highway 14 in western Wisconsin, but no injuries were reported, authorities said.
Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson said the crash occurred after 3 p.m. on westbound U.S. Highway 14 at Brye Lane, just west of Coon Valley. The bus was transporting 10 children at the time of the crash, and none of them were hurt.
“There are no injuries, zero injuries reported,” Torgerson said.
The crash initially blocked all westbound lanes of the highway. Authorities later reopened one lane to allow traffic to pass through the area as crews worked at the scene. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation estimated the lane closure would last about two hours.
Traffic moved slowly past the crash site, and motorists were urged to drive carefully and expect delays.
The Vernon County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the crash. Officials have not released information about what caused the collision or the extent of damage to the vehicles.
Add comment