Press vans following Tim Walz's motorcade were involved in a crash in Milwaukee

Press vans following Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz's motorcade were involved in a crash on Monday afternoon while en route to a campaign stop at Henry Maier Festival Park.

Walz's vehicle was not affected and continued on toward the Summerfest grounds where he spoke at Laborfest. Vans carrying about 15 to 20 members of the press and campaign staff near the back of the motorcade pulled over and various people were evaluated at the scene for injuries.

A campaign staffer was taken to a hospital with an injured arm; all other injuries were said to be minor. A statement from the Secret Service indicated the crash happened just before 1 p.m. and involved three "support vehicles." The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident.

A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter and photographer were among the media members traveling in the vans. The vans were transporting pool reporters, who travel with Walz while he’s in Wisconsin.

The crash happened along northbound Highway 794, just north of the Layton Avenue exit.

Walz began his speech at Laborfest by addressing the crash and thanking the U.S. Secret Service and first responders for their quick reaction.

"I'm relieved to say, with a few minor injuries, everybody's going to be OK," Walz said. "President Biden and Vice President Harris called to check in, and we certainly appreciate their concern."

Details on what led to the crash were not immediately available. However, reporters on scene noted that other cars were driving on the highway at the time, which was unusual since other traffic is typically prevented from accessing roadways alongside motorcades.

In a written statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Joseph Biesk, a U.S. Secret Service Chicago Field Office spokesperson, said that full closures of interstates are typically reserved only for the president of the United States or other protectees depending on extenuating circumstances.

"At certain other times, the Secret Service and its partners use full road closures for motorcades. The Secret Service and its partners base that decision on resources, time of day of the motorcade and the expected amount of traffic on the roads at the time of the movement,” Biesk said.

After Laborfest, Walz did not immediately return to the airport and instead made a stop at Froedtert Hospital's medical campus to check on the injured staffer.Reporters were told the staffer is in good condition.

Contact Adrienne Davis at [email protected]. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Press vans following Tim Walz's motorcade in Milwaukee struck in crash