Crash kills 9, including members of the University of the Southwest golf teams

• Members of the University of the Southwest’s golf teams were headed home from a tournament in Midland, Texas, when a pickup truck hit their van head-on.
• The crash caused both vehicles to catch fire, killing six students, their head coach, and the truck’s driver and passenger.
• Officials have launched an investigation into the fatal collision.

A vehicular collision on Tuesday night claimed the lives of nine people, including six students of a New Mexico university and their golf coach.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a pickup truck crossed the centerline of a two-lane road in West Texas “for unknown reasons” and collided with a van carrying members of the University of the Southwest women’s and men’s golf teams.

The teams were headed home from a tournament in Midland, Texas, when the pickup truck hit their van head-on. The crash caused both vehicles to catch fire.

Texas officials said that the pickup truck’s passenger and driver, 38-year-old Henrich Siemens and a 13-year-old unnamed boy, both passed away.

According to the University of the Southwest officials, seven of the van’s nine passengers passed away, including head coach Tyler James. Two students were in critical condition and were taken to a hospital by a helicopter.

Most of the van’s passengers were freshmen.

After the school canceled Wednesday’s softball game, people gathered on the field to offer prayers. The tournament host, Midland College, also canceled Wednesday’s games.

Counseling staff, as well as a worship team, was made available by the school following the tragedy.

School officials stated, “Please keep the families of students, coaching staff, and the USW community in your prayers as we come together to support one another during this difficult time.”

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham called the fatal crash “a terrible, tragic accident.”

“As we await additional information from authorities, my prayers are with the community and the loved ones of all those involved,” she continued.

The Texas Highway Patrol’s West Texas Region District Crash Team has opened an investigation into the collision, in cooperation with the National Transportation Safety Board.

A donation page for victims and their families was also set up by the university.

Source: USA Today