Castleton ? Two Reno County brothers died in a one-car accident on their way to school but their bodies weren’t discovered until their mother called the school hours later to ask why her sons hadn’t returned home, the county sheriff said.

Tyler Armstrong, 17, and Anthony Armstrong, 13, who lived near Castleton, died Thursday when their car overturned in a creek bed about 18 miles east of Fairfield High School. It does not appear another vehicle was involved in the accident and the reason the car went into the creek is unknown, Reno County Sheriff Randy Henderson said.

When the boys didn’t meet their mother, Carol Armstrong, as scheduled Thursday evening, she called the school to ask if they had stayed late. School officials told her the boys had not arrived at school Thursday morning.

Relatives then searched the boys’ normal route to school. Henderson said a male relative found them about 6 p.m. in Tyler’s 1997 Ford Mustang, The Hutchinson News reported. Both brothers were wearing seat belts.

“There was no apparent reason for the car to go off the approach to the bridge,” Henderson said. “This area is heavily populated with deer, which could be a reason the boys left the road, but that is not known for sure.”

The boys’ bodies were removed from the car about 8 p.m. and taken to Wichita for autopsies.

Fairfield superintendent and high school principal Mary Treaster said counselors were on hand at the school Friday to help support students and faculty.

“We all knew them,” she said. “They were great kids.”