Sad News

[tony@CIC]

Always sad to hear about the tragic death of young men and women. In this case a College golf team. 

"College students and their coach are among several people who have died following a collision between a truck and a vehicle carrying the University of the Southwest men's and women's golf teams. The teams were returning from a tournament at West Texas' Midland College, about 100 miles southeast of the New Mexico university, late Tuesday when their 17-passenger van collided head-on with a Ford F-150 in Texas' Andrews County, the Texas Department of Public Safety said, per ESPN. "It's a very tragic scene," Sgt. Steven Blanco added, describing fatalities in both vehicles. 

He said the department would not be releasing the names of the deceased "as we work with the university to confirm and further the investigation," per CNN. In a statement, the private Christian college in Hobbs, NM, said it was "attempting to notify family members of those involved" in the "fatal bus accident." In his own statement, university president Quint Thurman noted Tyler James, in his first season as head coach of both teams, had died. "We are still learning the details about the accident, but we are devastated and deeply saddened to learn about the loss of our students' lives and their coach," Thurman said, per KWES.

Thurman didn't say how many students had died. KWES reports the teams were made up of 11 men and five women, though it's unclear if all were traveling as a group. "My understanding is that two of our students have survived and have been airlifted to University hospital in Lubbock with serious injuries," Thurman said. The AP reports the crash site is "in the same area—but not the same roadway" where a pickup truck and a school bus carrying members of the Andrews High School band collided in November. The band director and the drivers of both vehicles died."

 

[THEZIPR23]

It is so sad. One of my first thoughts was of my JUCO team and how we would travel in 15 passenger van to events just like this. Terrible terrible tragedy. 

[THEZIPR23]

https://www.gofundme.com/f/university-of-southwest-golf-program?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer

 

Go Fund Me link for anyone interested. 

[tony@CIC]

An update: they now know that the pick-up which crashed into the van causing the deaths had both an adult and a 13 year old. The 13 yr old was driving the truck WTF - was he a designated driver? What was the other person (adult)thinking??? Additional update on https://www.newswest9.com/

[Stuka44]

Can't fix STUPID.  And by the way instead of spending millions of dollars on cars and vehicles that can drive themselves.  How about we require auto manufacturers to from this day forward build cars which MUST be equipped with a full-sized spare tire.   I saw truck was being operated with a "doughnut" spare, which they think failed causing the pick up to veer left when it failed .  Again nobody's fault but the A-Hole who let the kid drive, but like my wifes SUV, a nissan Murano.   I looked doughnut.

Hey auto makers.  Leave the heated seats, and steering wheel off my next vehicle, and give me a freaking full sized spare!!!!

[Larryw]

9 hours ago, stuka44 said:

 I saw truck was being operated with a "doughnut" spare, which they think failed causing the pick up to veer left when it failed .

Should verify this. Information I read indicated it was a full size steel rim spare (different rim than other 3 tires on vehicle) - that failed possibly contributing to the accident - not a doughnut spare.

[tony@CIC]

I haven't seen info either way. However, it's interesting that it was being investigated by NTSB instead of the normal police investigation. Regardless, for me was the biggest issue was having a 13 yr old driving. 

[fixyurdivot]

On 3/16/2022 at 4:11 PM, THEZIPR23 said:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/university-of-southwest-golf-program?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer

 

Go Fund Me link for anyone interested. 

TGC talked about this during yesterday's coverage of the Valspar and that McKenzie Hughes had started a $500 for every birdie donation campaign.  A couple of other players quickly joined in. 

[Kenny B]

5 hours ago, tony@CIC said:

I haven't seen info either way. However, it's interesting that it was being investigated by NTSB instead of the normal police investigation. Regardless, for me was the biggest issue was having a 13 yr old driving. 

I think the NTSB is involved because they classify it as a "mass casualty accident".  That means it will take a month or so before we see a report.