EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – A 22-year-old semitrailer driver had a suspended license when his rig jackknifed and was struck by a bus carrying a high school band, killing five people and injuring 29, authorities said Monday.
Michael J. Kozlowski's (search) driver's license was suspended Sept. 21 for failing to pay a speeding ticket issued in Indiana in April, according to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
Kozlowski, of Highland, Ind., received his commercial driver's license in February, the agency said.
A bus carrying the Chippewa Falls High School (search) marching band struck Kozlowski's tractor-trailer, which had jackknifed early Sunday on Interstate 94 northwest of Osseo, Wisconsin State Patrol spokesman Brent Pickard said.
The crash killed the band director, his wife and their 11-year-old granddaughter, along with the bus driver and a student teacher.
It was unknown what caused Kozlowski's rig to overturn, but he told investigators he had not fallen asleep, according to the State Patrol.
Kozlowski was headed from Indiana to the Twin Cities for his employer, Whole Foods Market Group (search) of Munster, Ind.
Whole Foods spokeswoman Kate Lowery said Kozlowski's driving record was clean when the company checked state records in July. She said the problem appeared to be an "administrative glitch" at the motor vehicles agency.
"I'd like to reiterate how our hearts go out to all those involved, and we're continuing to investigate on our end," Lowery said.
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