Town Mourns Band Bus Crash Victims

Five Dead After Bus Hits Jackknifed Semi On I-94 After Competition

(CBS/AP)  Nearly everyone was sleeping and was happy that the band's routine, "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" had placed third in the competition Saturday in Class AAAA at the Wisconsin School Music Association State Marching Band Championships in Whitewater, Richter said.

Schoch said the band had stayed Friday night in Whitewater and noted it was common to return late Saturday so everyone could be home on Sunday.

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

Richter's stepfather David Bhend said there were always quality concerts and quality performances under Greenhalgh's leadership.

"He shared a great gift with a lot of people," Bhend said. "The gift of music and personal growth. He made these kids find themselves and got them to do the best that they can."

Bhend said members of the music program under Greenhalgh had taken many trips over the years, including to New York and New Orleans.

At least 400 students and parents met at the school of about 1,500 students Sunday to get information on the accident. Counselors and clergy would be available "to address their spiritual needs," Schoch said.

"Our student body has handled this fantastically, just showing maturity," he said.

The injured were taken to at least four different hospitals with injuries ranging from serious to non-life threatening, Notbohm said.

Two students, including an 11-year-old friend of the band director's granddaughter, and four adults, including assistant band director Brian Collicott, who sustained multiple broken bones and a spinal injury, remained hospitalized Monday, Schoch said.

Those hospitalized had injuries such as broken hips, arms and legs and punctured lungs, the superintendent said. Many had undergone surgery, but all are expected to recover, he said. Other students with minor injuries were treated and sent home.

"They were keeping us away from the front of the bus because it was really bad," said Richter.

Atherton was a native of Waukesha and a student at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and had been student teaching at the high school this fall after helping with marching band program the last two summers.

Schoch said the bus was one of four carrying about 200 students and 40 adult teachers and chaperones. Notbohm said the bus involved in the crash had a capacity of 53 but he did not know how many were actually on the vehicle.

The semi driver employed by Whole Foods Market Group of Munster, Ind., was en route from Indiana to the Twin Cities, Notbohm said, adding that the semi driver was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.

Patrol spokesman Brent Pickard said the skies were clear and the road was dry at the time of the crash.

It was not known what caused the truck to go off the road, but the driver told investigators at the scene that he had not fallen asleep, Notbohm said.

"We haven't ruled out anything as it relates to the (semi) driver's situation."

The National Transportation Safety Board will be involved in the investigation, he said.