Two dead, two missing in Wisconsin boat crash

MILWAUKEE (Reuters) - A boat containing six people who were part of a wedding party collided with a speed boat on the Chippewa River near Eau Claire, Wis., leaving two dead and two missing, officials said Saturday.

The 50-year-old driver of the speed boat was killed on impact and his boat circled out of control at high-speed until it ran aground against the shore, according to the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office. His passenger was severely injured.

The operator and four passengers on the other boat were thrown into the water on impact. The boat was a Prince Craft, a boat similar to a pontoon. The operator and two passengers were able to swim to shore, but the other two who were thrown into the water are missing.

A fifth passenger was found dead on the boat, which was found about a half mile downstream from the scene, according to the sheriff's office.

The accident was reported at 9:44 p.m. Friday.

The dead are Mark Michels, 50, the operator of the Larson speed boat, and Matthew Overhauser, 27, a passenger on the Prince Craft. Two people remain hospitalized and one was treated at the hospital but released.

Missing are Luke Pohl, 25, and Matthew Simonson, 28. The driver of the Prince Craft was arrested, but no charges were immediately available from the sheriff's office.

The passengers on the Prince Craft boat were all part of a wedding party that was to take place Saturday, the sheriff's office said.

(Writing by Mary Wisniewski; Additional reporting by John Rondy; Editing by Tim Gaynor)