Tragedy as three University of Wyoming swimmers – 18, 21 and 22 – are killed in ‘devastating’ single vehicle crash along Colorado highway
- The car was traveling south on US Highway 287 when it left the road and rolled several times
Three University of Wyoming swimmers were killed in a “devastating” single-vehicle crash on a Colorado highway.
The students, an 18-year-old woman and two men aged 21 and 22, were killed in the incident yesterday afternoon, while two more team members suffered injuries.
The car was traveling south on U.S. Highway 287, 10 miles from the Wyoming-Colorado border, about 2:44 p.m. when the driver left the road and the vehicle rolled several times, the university said.
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.
Two student athletes were thrown from the vehicle, the Coloradoan reports.
The car was traveling south on U.S. Highway 287, 10 miles from the Wyoming-Colorado border, about 2:44 p.m. when the driver left the road and the vehicle rolled several times, the university said. In the photo: the heavily damaged vehicle in a field
Two members of the Wyoming swimming and diving team, ages 20 and 21, suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
The Toyota RAV4, with five occupants on board, was traveling south near Red Mountain Road in Larimer County when it left the road and overturned, CBS News reports.
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.
University of Wyoming President Ed Seides said in a statement: “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.’
Images from the crash site show the car lying on its side, 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
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 way back from a team meet 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.