Wisconsin Teacher Killed in Car Crash
Officials have confirmed a Bloomer School District teacher was killed in a car crash that occurred last week.
Bloomer superintendent Mary Randall confirmed the news to WEAU that Derek Thompson died in the two-car crash that happened Saturday night in Chippewa County.
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“We are deeply saddened by the news of this loss. Bloomer High School staff met today (Sunday) to support each other and to develop plans for the students who will be affected by this loss,” Randall told WEAU.
Counseling was made available to students and staff all week.
The Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office stated that two cars were traveling in opposite directions on State Highway 64 about a quarter of a mile east of 102nd St. in the township of Bloomer when they collided.
One car had five people inside, including Derek Thompson, the driver. He died at the scene of the accident. The other four were transported by ambulance to a local hospital with unknown injuries. The driver was the only person in the other car and was transported by ambulance to a local hospital as well.
The cause of the crash is unknown at this time and an investigation is ongoing.
Along with the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office, the Bloomer Police Department, the Wisconsin State Patrol, the Chippewa County Coroner’s Office, Bloomer Fire, Bloomer First Responders, the Bloomer Ambulance Service, Cornell Ambulance, and Chippewa Falls EMS were all on the scene.
According to the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation, there have been 33 fatalities on Wisconsin roads in April. So far, this year 155 people have died as a result of injuries sustained in a crash. Last year, 136 people died as a result of a crash in Wisconsin.
This year three of the fatalities were bicyclists, 97 were drivers, four were killed while on a motorcycle, 37 people were passengers in vehicles and 14 were pedestrians, according to the D.O.T.
The data represent traffic fatalities occurring on public traffic ways in Wisconsin reported to the Division of Motor Vehicles- Accident Records Unit. A traffic fatality is reported when death occurs within 30 days (of the crash) as a result of injuries received in the crash. Traffic fatalities are not considered officially reported until the Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles-Accident Records Unit has been notified by the investigating law enforcement officer or agency.
