MERRIMAC (WMSN) -- At least 12 people were injured after a ski lift malfunctioned at Devil's Head Resort in Merrimac.



It happened shortly after 7 p.m. Thursday night.



"The ski lift was in operation, was full of skiers," said Sauk Co. Chief Deputy Chip Meister. "The ski lift stopped and then started coming back rapidly. There were unable to stop it at that time."



"There was a loud bang and it smelled like burned rubber," said Brent Cashore of Evansville. "That's when it started coming backwards and the chairs were just flying and the thing is smokey, sparking."



Deputy Meister says at least 3 people were seriously injured. And at least 9 minor injuries in the incident.



"The chairs were just crashing at the bottom and shattering," said Cashore. "People were jumping off all over the mountain. It lasted about a minute and a half to two minutes. Nothing anyone could do but watch them jump off and try to help them."



Crews are currently in the process of getting people off the lift that are still on it.



"The injured people are currently being taken to area hospitals including Baraboo, Sauk Prairie Hospital, and possibly to Portage Hospital," Meister said.



Devil's Head Resort general manager Joe Vittengl said there were three ski lifts in operation when the accident happened. Maintenance crews inspected the other two lifts, which were deemed safe. Those two lifts are still operating, according to Vittengl.



An internal investigation is ongoing, but the conditions are making it difficult, according to Vittengl. "It's pitch dark out there," he said.



Chair lift malfunction at Devil's Head Resort