CHETEK, Wis. - Sheriff's officials have identified the victims of a small plane crash in northwestern Wisconsin, where one teen was killed and another was critically injured.
Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald says the plane went down about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday near Chetek, the same community where a tornado last week caused one fatality and widespread damage.
Wreckage from the single-engine, two-seater plane was found in the Red Cedar River, south of Chetek. Both teens were pulled from the water.
The teen who died has been identified as Owen Knutson, a 17-year-old senior at Chetek-Weyerhaeuser High School. The injured teen was identified as Hunter Gillett, an 18-year-old a senior at Cameron High School.
Gillett was taken to an Eau Claire area hospital and later flown to Rochester, where he is currently in serious condition.
Authorities say Knutson was driving the plane, which took off from a private air strip on his family's property.
A boat was brought in to secure the plane in the river. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating.
The Barron County Sheriff's Department asks all to offer support to the families and students of the Chetek and Cameron school districts.
"On a weekend we were supposed to come together to celebrate accomplishments with graduations and families gathering with the holiday, we need your thoughts and prayers," Fitzgerald wrote on the Barron County Facebook page.