Coach and six University of the Southwest golfers identified as victims in crash that killed nine
Two students survived the crash and are in the hospital in critical condition
A bus crash in Texas left two people in critical condition and another nine dead, including players and a coach from the University of the Southwest's golf teams.
Tyler James, the both teams' head coach, was just about to begin his first season on the job before he was killed in the bus crash.
Both the men and women's college golf teams were on the bus and returning from competitions at Midland College when the crash occurred on Tuesday. The bus had left Texas and was returning to the school's campus in Hobbs, New Mexico.
According to the university, there were nine people aboard the bus when it crashed into a Ford pickup truck that had crossed the centre line.
Both the driver and the passenger in the pickup truck reportedly were killed in the crash.
Two students survived the crash and were life-flighted from the scene. The injured were taken to Lubbock, Texas, for medical treatments, and are in critical condition.
The school issued a statement on social media saying it was in the process of contacting the family members of those who died in the accident.
The National Transportation Safety Board announced it sent a team to investigating the accident.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott issues statement
Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a statement expressing condolences for the accident that left nine people dead, including six University of the Southwest collegiate golfers and their head coach.
“We grieve with the loved ones of the individuals whose lives were horrifically taken too soon in this fatal vehicle crash near Andrews last night,” Mr Abbott said in the prepared statement.
The crash occurred in Texas after the team left Midlands College to return to their homes in New Mexico.
Midland College golf team honours University of the Southwest golf team killed in crash
The Midland College golf team is honouring the six University of the Southwest collegiate golfers and their head coach killed in a crash following a competition at the school by leaving their scorecards mounted on the campus’s scoreboard.
Midland College took to Instagram to show that it had cleared all other scorecards from the board, with the exception of the USW golfers’ cards.
“Our scoreboard today as we mourn the loss of dear friends, fierce competitors, and golf lovers. We are deeply saddened by the tragic events of last night. As we found out the devastating news we canceled the rest of the tournament and met this morning to pray for the lives lost and the families affected,” the college wrote on Instagram. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the University of the Southwest and all the lives affected by this tragedy. We have cleared the rest for the scoreboard and left the USW mens and womens scoreboard in honor.”
GoFundMe set up for one of the surviving University of the Southwest golfers
A GoFundMe to pay for travel and hospital costs has been established by the family of one of the University of the Southwest college golfers who survived a crash that killed six of his teammates and his head coach.
The fundraiser was created by the family of USW golfer Dayton Price. According to the family, Mr Price suffered third degree burns over much of his body and is still in critical condition. Doctors are reportedly still working to stabilise his condition.
More than $5,000 of the GoFundMe’s $200,000 goal have already been raised.
According to the family, Mr Price is originally from Canada and traveled to the US to compete on the USW golf team.
Photo of Tyler James, University of the Southwest men and women’s golf coach killed in crash
KWTX News shared a photo of Tyler James, the University of the Southwest head coach for the men and women’s golf team. He and six members of the teams were killed in a fatal traffic accident on Tuesday evening.
Mr James was starting his first year as head coach at USW when the accident occurred. The team was returning to New Mexico from a competition in Midland, Texas, when the crash occurred.
Mother of University of the Southwest golfer remembers her daughter
The mother of University of the Southwest golfer Lacie Stone, who was reportedly killed in a traffic accident Tuesday evening that also killed five of her teammates and her coach, remembered her daughter in a Facebook post.
“Our Laci is gone. She has been an absolute ray of sunshine during this short time on earth,” her mother, Chelsi Stone, wrote in the post. “We will never be the same after this and we just don’t understand how this happened.”
Two players survived the accident and were air-lifted to a hospital in Lubbock, Texas. They are currently in critical condition.
Liveblog is closed
The Independent’s live coverage of the tragic accident that killed six University of the Southwest golfers and their coach has ended for the day.
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