Six students from the University of the Southwest in New Mexico were killed Tuesday night when a pickup truck crashed into their vehicle in west Texas, the institution confirmed.
The Dodge pickup truck was traveling northbound in the wrong lane and collided with their vehicle, killing a total of nine people, including the six students, their coach, and two people in the pickup, according to officials. Two students are in critical condition.
“The USW campus community is shocked and saddened today as we mourn the loss of members of our university family,” the university said in a statement Wednesday. “University administration is communicating with families of the students and coaching staff to provide more information as it becomes available.”
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The two surviving students were transported via helicopter to the University Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas, a representative from the Texas Department of Public Safety told the Washington Examiner in a statement. Officials are working on determining the cause of the collision.
“For unknown reasons, the Dodge pickup drove into the northbound lane and struck the Ford passenger van head-on. Both vehicles caught fire and burned,” the statement read.
Nine passengers, including members of the men’s and women’s golf teams, were in the vehicle, returning from a competition in Midland, Texas, before the crash occurred at 8 p.m. local time Tuesday, officials said. The vehicle carrying the students was driven by head coach Tyler James, university President Quint Thurman said.
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The institution, which reached out to family members of the victims, said that “counseling staff and the worship team will be available on campus today to provide support for students, faculty, and staff.”
An investigation into the crash by the Texas Highway Patrol’s West Texas Region District Crash Team (with assistance from the National Transportation Safety Board) is underway, according to the DPS.
