(Ansley, Neb.)- A two vehicle crash on Highway 2 in Custer County has claimed the life of three Custer County men and sent eight Broken Bow High School students to area hospitals.

A hospital spokeswoman says one high school student remains in critical condition following a crash of a basketball team van that killed two coaches and the driver of a pickup truck that collided with it.

Marsha Wilkerson says two other students are in serious condition, one is in fair condition and one was treated and released from Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Another student was in fair condition at another hospital, and two others were treated and released last night.

The crash occurred just before 4:00 p.m., Friday, June 1, one mile west of Ansley on Highway 2 in Custer County. Troopers say the preliminary investigation indicates a pickup truck driven by Albert Sherbeck, 70, Ansley was traveling east on Highway 2 when it crossed the center line and struck a westbound 2009 Ford Econoline van driven by Zane Harvey, 38, Broken Bow. Sherbeck and Harvey along with Anthony Blum, 24, Broken Bow were killed in crash. Blum was a front seat passenger in the van.

The van registered to the Broken Bow Public Schools was returning from a basketball clinic in Kearney when the crash occurred. Eight Broken Bow students, all male members of the High School Basketball team, were transported to area hospitals.

Harvey and Blum were both coaches at Broken Bow High School.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The Nebraska State Patrol was assisted at the scene of the crash by the Custer County Sheriff’s Office, as well as rescue personnel from Ansley, Broken Bow, Mason City and Merna.