Two area men die when truck crashes in northern Wisconsin
Two northern Minnesota men died Saturday after their truck crashed into a tree in northern Wisconsin.
The Bayfield County Sheriff's Department identified the men as 22-year-old driver Coty A. Gustafson of Mentor, Minn., and 29-year-old passenger David W. Kurtz of Climax, Minn.
The Daily Press of Ashland said the accident was reported about 1 a.m. Saturday, May 1, in the town of Drummond, Wis.
A 2007 GMC pickup driven north on U.S. Highway 63 By Gustafson left the roadway and struck a tree at a high rate of speed.The impact with the tree spread vehicle parts and debris for hundreds of feet around the collision site, according to the Bayfield County Sheriff's report.
The crash is still being investigated, but deputies believe the driver was distracted after a picnic table in the bed of the truck flew out. Authorities say Gustafson apparently lost control and slammed into a tree.
Gustafson was pinned in the vehicle. Kurtz was ejected.Both were dead at the scene.
A toxicology report is pending.
Responding to the accident were Bayfield County Sheriff's Department, Drummon Frie and Rescue, Great Divide Ambulance and Bayfield County Coroner.
