Members of the University of Wyoming swimming team who died in a “devastating” single-vehicle crash on a Colorado highway have been identified.
The three students, Charlie Clark, 19, Carson Muir, 18, and Luke Slabber, 21, were killed in the collision, while two more team members suffered injuries.
The car was traveling south on U.S. Highway 287, 10 miles from the Wyoming-Colorado border, when the driver left the road and the vehicle rolled several times.
Footage taken at the crash site shows the car, a Toyota RAV4, badly damaged and lying on its side in a field, with fragments of the vehicle scattered on the ground.
A post on the swim team’s account was flooded with tributes following the announcement earlier today.
Their message read: “Keep their families, friends and teammates in your hearts.”
Carson Muir, pictured here, was a freshman in college and originally from Birmingham, Alabama
Charlie Clark, left, and Luke Slabber, right, both died in the incident on Thursday afternoon
Images from the crash site show the car lying on its side with fragments scattered on the ground, surrounded by emergency services.
The highway was closed in both directions all day on Thursday. An investigation is underway
Images from the crash site show the car badly damaged and lying on its side in a field with fragments scattered on the ground, surrounded by emergency services.
It also shows the mangled vehicle being towed away on the back of a truck.
In posts on his Instagram account, people paid tribute to Slabber, with one person describing him as ‘an absolute legend’.
One person wrote: ‘Thanks for everything Slabs. I’m going to miss you so much.’
Another commented: ‘Rest in peace Platen. We love you,” while another said: “Here’s to an absolute legend. I love your records.’
Among the tributes to Clark, one person said: “Rest in peace, Charlie. We love you,” said another: “Rest in peace king.”
Another person added, “Rest in peace dear Carson, you were an amazing individual and athlete. Forever in our hearts.’
Slabber, originally from Cape Town, South Africa, was a sophomore at university and competed primarily in sprint freestyle, breaststroke and individual medley. The university said he was studying construction management.
Clark, from Las Vegas, was also a sophomore in college and competed in distance freestyle and the individual medley. Clark studied psychology.
Muir was a freshman in college, originally from Birmingham, Alabama, and studying veterinary medicine.
In posts on his Instagram account, people paid tribute to Slabber, with one person describing him as ‘an absolute legend’
The group was not traveling to an official school or athletic event, authorities said
The three students were killed in the collision, while two more team members sustained injuries
The car was traveling south on US Highway 287, 10 miles from the Wyoming-Colorado border, when the driver left the road.
The group was not traveling to an official school or athletic event, authorities said.
The highway was closed in both directions all day on Thursday. An investigation is underway.
UW President Ed Seidel said, “We are heartbroken by the news of this terrible tragedy for our university, our state, our student-athlete community and, most importantly, the families and friends of these young people. Words are inadequate to express our sadness.’
UW Director of Athletics Tom Burman said, “My thoughts and prayers are with our swimming and diving students, coaches, families and friends
“It is difficult to lose members of our University of Wyoming family, and we mourn the loss of these student-athletes.
“We have counseling services available for our student-athletes and coaches in times of need.
In September 2001, eight Wyoming cross-country and track runners were killed in a head-on collision involving their Jeep and a pickup truck on the same highway where the swimmers were killed.
The group was returning from team bonding activities in nearby Fort Collins when Wyoming student Clinton Haskins drunkenly crossed the divider and crashed into the team’s car, according to the Denver Post.
All passengers except the driver, who had no alcohol or drugs in his system, were ejected from the vehicle.