Three local students die in fiery crash

Two Burlington High School students and a recent graduate of the school were killed Sunday when the car they were in collided with a tree and burst into flames in the Town of Lyons, according to officials with the Walworth County Sheriff’s Department.

Driver Jason Davis, 17, and passengers Hunter Morby, 17, and Landen Brown, 20, died in the crash that occurred on Cranberry Road east of Berndt Road, according to investigators. Morby and Davis are juniors at BHS and Brown is a 2015 graduate of the school. Brown had been attending the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

According to sheriff’s officials, the three were in a 2003 Volkswagen Jetta

that was traveling east on Cranberry Road at a high speed when it left the road and struck a tree in a

ditch on the north side of the road. First responders, who were summoned at 7:01 p.m., found the car against a tree fully engulfed in flames with all three occupants deceased and badly burned, the news release said.

The crash remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Crash Investigation Unit and the Walworth County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The three were tentatively identified following interviews with family members, however, positive identification will rely on confirmation through dental records, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

The Burlington Area School District released the following statement late Monday afternoon:

“We are grieving the loss of Hunter Morby and Jason Davis, juniors at BHS, and 2015 graduate Landen

Brown.

“School counselors will be available starting Tuesday during school hours at Burlington High School to assist students and staff needing support.

“On Tuesday, May 30 at 7 p.m. in the BHS gym, Burlington High School will host a gathering for students, staff and community members seeking support. Mervin Langley, Ph.D., will provide information on grief to assist students and parents.

“Our deepest sympathy goes out to the families and friends of these students. Please keep these families and our community in your thoughts as we work through this difficult time.”

As news of the crash broke in the community, it was quickly followed by

expressions of sorrow and condolences to the families of the three on social media.

Burlington Mayor Jeannie Hefty wrote on her Facebook page:

“Our community has suffered the tragic loss of young individuals.

“Our hearts go out to these families and I know this community will help in any way we can.

“My thoughts are with the Lyons Fire and Rescue who was the lead response. Burlington Rescue and Burlington Town Fire also assisted in Lyons. These are tough calls for everyone involved.

“Keep these families in your thoughts and prayers.”

This story has been updated since it was originally posted. See this week’s print edition of the Burlington Standard Press for more on the crash and the community’s response.