5 Killed on Prom-Night Outing

NEILLSVILLE, Wis. (AP) â€” Classmates huddled and left mementos at a makeshift memorial at the site where four teen-agers on a prom-night outing were killed in a fiery crash. <br><br>``We'll miss you,''

Monday, May 8th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEILLSVILLE, Wis. (AP) â€” Classmates huddled and left mementos at a makeshift memorial at the site where four teen-agers on a prom-night outing were killed in a fiery crash.

``We'll miss you,'' read a large sign left Sunday amid the bits of grille, heaved concrete and charred grass.

A car carrying the Neillsville High School teen-agers on Route 95 collided with a van early Sunday. Both vehicles burst into flames, killing the teens and the van's driver.

``My dad tried keeping it a secret from me, but I heard him tell my aunt that some of my classmates had died in a car crash,'' junior Stacey Hohenstein said as she dabbed away tears.

The accident happened near Neillsville in the central part of the state. The victims were burned beyond recognition, the Clark County Sheriff's Department said. Their identities were not released Sunday.

``I've been in EMS work for a little over 30 years and this is probably the worst I've ever seen,'' said coroner Richard Schleifer.

The teen-agers had attended the prom at the school's gymnasium Saturday night, said John Gaier, administrator of the Neillsville school district.

``In a community our size, it is certainly a tremendous loss to everybody,'' he said.