Authorities ID Kewaskum High School students killed after striking deputy
KEWASKUM (WITI) -- Two Kewaskum High School students are dead — after their vehicle slammed into a Washington County Sheriff’s deputy on Wednesday morning, June 18th. The victims have been identified as 16-year-old Travis Trapp of Cascade and 16-year-old Brent Schultz of Kewaskum.
The crash happened at 8:39 a.m. on County Highway H in Washington County.
Officials say wet roads may have been a factor in this crash. It happened right in the midst of Wednesday morning’s storms.
“There was water standing on the roads even on our response out there,” Kewaskum Fire Chief Mark Groeschel said.
The Kewaskum High School students were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Washington County Sheriff’s deputy was taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries. That deputy was treated and released.
The State Patrol says the vehicle the Kewaskum High School students were traveling in went over the yellow line and hit the deputy.
Friends of the victims in this case say the two were best friends — and were apparently on their way to run errands.
It's a tragedy, as Kewaskum High School students were just beginning their summer vacation.
Friends of the victims say they are heartbroken by what has happened.
“I just wanted to see it to make it more real, because I don't know. I wanted it to be fake. I called Brent's phone 20 times -- wishing he would answer. He didn't, so I wanted to know -- and see where he had his last breath," Courtney Neui said.
"My first thought was 'no, it can't be Travis,'" Tristen Dorzok said.
The Fire Department says both of the Kewaskum High School students killed in the crash were wearing their seatbelts.
Friends say the boys worked on a farm -- and were apparently headed for a Menards store at the time of the crash.
Friends tell FOX6 News the boys were active in FFA and trap shooting.
The Wisconsin State Patrol’s Technical Reconstruction Unit is reconstructing the crash in an effort to determine what happened.
Dorzok, a friend of the victims says the curve on County Highway H is known to be dangerous when it rains.
"A couple weeks ago when it rained, I started hydroplaning down the hill and I was only doing 40 miles an hour and I almost slid into a semi. My buddy said a few weeks ago when it rained, he saw a car stuck because it hydroplaned off the road," Dorzok said.
Kewaskum Fire Chief Mark Groeschel was one of the first to arrive at the scene. He says the deputy who was struck is the son of a retired Kewaskum firefighter.
“Most of us here at the station know the deputy. Hits a little bit harder when you know someone,” Chief Groeschel said.
Counselors were made available for students and community members at the Kewaskum High School cafeteria on Thursday, June 19th from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. They will be made available again on Friday, June 20th.
Visitation services for the boys will be held at Kewaskum High School on Sunday afternoon.
The Washington County Sheriff's deputy involved in this crash is recovering at home.