MONROE — A rural Gratiot family was injured in a two-vehicle crash early Friday on their way to the Wisconsin Girls State Basketball Tournament in Green Bay to watch the Blackhawk Girls Basketball Team play, according to Green County Sheriff Jeff Skatrud.

All nine people traveling in the family’s 2006 GMC Yukon SUV were taken by ambulance to area hospitals, as was the driver of the other vehicle.

Multiple 911 calls reported the two-vehicle crash at 5:49 a.m. on Wisconsin 69 about a mile north of Hefty Road, between Monticello and the New Glarus Woods State Park hill.

Gerald K. Heimann, 54, was driving the Yukon SUV northbound when he collided with one of several deer crossing Wis. 69.

Heimann was taking evasive action to avoid colliding with more deer when his SUV was rear-ended by a northbound semi tractor-trailer hauling whey, driven by Kurt G. Hardie, 58, Fond du Lac.

There were no indications that alcohol, cellphone distractions or controlled substances had any involvement in the crash, according to Skatrud.

The eight passengers in the SUV were Kenneth C. Heimann, 85, Nancy A. Heimann, 58, Kristina J. Heimann, 14, Charles K.C. Heimann, 12, Katherine M. Heimann, 15, Aleta M. Broge, 16, Sophia M. Winters, 13, and Jeremia J. Haferbecker, 5.

Two of the passengers were not properly restrained, according to Skatrud. Jeremia was seated in the rear middle seat and not wearing a seatbelt, and Katherine was riding in the rear cargo area of the SUV and not restrained.

No citations were issued on Friday. Skatrud said deputies will forward investigative reports from the crash to the Green County District Attorney to evaluate for any possible charges.

Wis. 69 was closed down until early afternoon between Monticello and New Glarus, with traffic being rerouted over seven hours. 

The Green County Highway Department supplied barricades and signage for the closure.

Some of the victims remain hospitalized while others have been released and are attending to their family, according to Skatrud.

Assisting deputies at the crash scene were fire departments from New Glarus and Monticello along with ambulances from New Glarus, Monroe, Albany, Belleville, Brooklyn, Blanchardville and Fitchburg.