W. Wisconsin HS volleyball team bus in crash; 2 in vehicle killed

The accident happened at around 2:35 p.m. near the intersection of County Road B and Highway 63, just northeast of Cumberland.

The driver and the passenger were found dead when authorities arrived on scene.

The Wisconsin State Patrol reported that the two people who died, and the critically injured person, were in the vehicle. A second passenger was critically injured and transported to Cumberland Memorial Hospital, and later flown to Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

Authorities said the bus came to rest in a ditch partially submerged in water, but all occupants were able to safely exit through the rear emergency exit. The bus was transporting members of the Spooner High School volleyball team.

Initial reports indicate the auto, which was traveling westbound on Highway B, failed to obey a stop sign and was hit by the school bus, which was headed northbound on U.S. 63.

Sixteen people on the school bus, which included the coaching staff, were treated for minor injuries at Cumberland Memorial Hospital and released, the state patrol said. The names of the victims are being held pending notification of family.

Wisconsin State Patrol officers are now investigating this crash, including the Technical Reconstruction Unit and the Motor Carrier Enforcement Unit.