By Kim McDarison

The Whitewater Fire and EMS department responded Saturday to a motor vehicle accident which resulted in three fatalities and six individuals with serious injuries, according to information released Monday by Assistant Chief Ryan Dion.

According to the release, the Whitewater Fire and EMS department received a report of a motor vehicle collision involving multiple vehicles at the intersection of Highways 12/89 and Tri-County Line Road, in Rock County, west of the city of Whitewater.

The accident occurred at 12:05 p.m.

Upon arrival, the release reported, first responders discovered that three vehicles were involved in the collision. Two of the vehicles are described within the release as having “major damage,” with three occupants having been “ejected.”

Three individuals were declared dead at the scene, according to the release.

Five individuals were transported by ambulance to area hospitals, and one was transported by UW Med Flight.

The release noted that mutual aid was requested from Lakeside Fire-Rescue, the Fort Atkinson Fire Department, and the Lauderdale-LaGrange Fire Department.

Law enforcement responders arriving at the scene included deputies from the sheriff’s offices of Rock and Jefferson counties, along with members of the Whitewater Police Department and the Wisconsin State Patrol.

Once stabilized, the release reported, the scene was turned over to the Rock County Sheriff’s Office for investigation.

The intersection is closed to facilitate the investigation, the release reported Monday, for a time yet to be determined.

Names of the individuals involved are not being released pending the investigation and notification to next of kin, the release stated.

Whitewater Fire and EMS, within the release, extended its thanks to “numerous bystanders and witnesses” who offered assistance and first aid “during the initial moments of (the) mass casualty event.”