JEFFERSON COUNTY, Wis. -- Two people are dead after a plane crashes into the Rock River in Jefferson County Tuesday night.
A 51-year-old Edgerton man and a 16-year-old boy from the Fort Atkinson area were pronounced dead Wednesday morning by the Jefferson County Medical Examiner's Office.
Chief Deputy Jeffrey Parker, of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, said no information was available yet regarding the relationship between the two passengers.
The ultralight plane crashed into the river at 8:05 p.m.
Parker described an ultralight as a lightweight plane with an engine at the rear of the aircraft.
Parker said the plane took off from the Fort Atkinson Airport. He said he did not know where the aircraft was registered.
Because the ultralight plane landed in the river for unknown reasons, the FAA has been called to investigate the cause of the crash.
"They'll be coming here to Jefferson County to conduct their portion of the investigation," Parker said.
Jefferson County's Dive Team, which will remove the boat from the water, could be seen making its way out to the crash site about 9:00 a.m. Wednesday.
Neighbors in the area said the plane crash left them stunned.
"That was really crazy to see," said Sheryl Spooner. "It was almost unbelievable."
Parker said people on a pontoon boat in the area at the time of the crash drove over and pulled the victims from the water.
However, life-saving measures at the scene were ineffective.
He added first responders reported other people in the area swimming out to the wreck to try and help the two people on board the plane.
"In a sense, it's heroic, when you people that come to the aid of others," Parker said. "It's a great sense of pride to have people in your community who will help others when they're in need."
Emergency officials say the plane was almost completely submerged in the water when they arrived to the scene with the two victims reportedly to be unconscious. Recreational boaters in the area assisted with retrieving the victims but lifesaving attempts were unsuccessful.
Stay with TODAY'S TMJ4 for further updates on this developing story.
