School bus crashes in Wisconsin; 5 dead

A bus carrying high school students home from a band competition crashed into a tractor-trailer that had jackknifed on the interstate, killing five people, including the band director and his 11-year-old granddaughter, officials said. Twenty-nine others were injured, some seriously, in the Sunday accident, troopers said.

"It's a terrific tragedy and loss to our school and community," said Chippewa Falls schools superintendent Mike Schoch. "Our community is stunned by it."

The semi had gone off the shoulder of Interstate 94 and jackknifed, and was blocking the westbound lane, Wisconsin State Patrol Capt. Douglas Notbohm said.

"I don't know how much opportunity there was for braking action," he said. The bus slammed into the overturned truck, but it didn't roll or catch fire, patrol spokesman Brent Pickard said.

It was the first of four buses carrying about 200 students and 40 adult chaperones, Schoch said.

Four students and three adults remained hospitalized Sunday night with injuries including broken hips, arms and legs and punctured lungs. Many had undergone surgery, but all were expected to recover, he said, reports the AP. I.L.

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