Six deceased University of the Southwest students
Authorities revealed on Thursday that a child was driving a pick-up truck that collided with a van, killing nine people in a horrific crash in West Texas this week.
A van carrying several members of a New Mexico university’s golf team from a tournament was struck by a pick-up truck on Tuesday night.
NBC News reported that a coach and six team members died in the fiery collision: Tyler James, 26; Mauricio Sanchez, 19; Travis Garcia, 19; Jackson Zinn, 22; Karisa Raines, 21; Laci Stone, 18; and Tiago Sousa, 18.
Two other golf team members were rushed to hospital in critical condition.
The two people in the pick-up truck, 38-year-old Henrich Siemens and a 13-year-old boy also died, according to the outlet.
According to National Transportation Safety Board Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg, the 13-year-old boy was driving the truck when it collided with the van.
AP reported:
National Transportation Safety Board Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg said Thursday that a 13-year-old was driving the pickup truck that struck a van in West Texas in a fiery collision that killed nine people.
The truck’s left front tire, which was a spare tire, also blew out before impact, Landsberg said.
One must be 14 in Texas to start taking classroom courses for a learner’s license and 15 to receive that provisional license to drive with an instructor or licensed adult in the vehicle. Department of Public Safety Sgt. Victor Taylor said a 13-year-old driving would be breaking the law.
Although it was unclear how fast the two vehicles were traveling, “this was clearly a high-speed collision,” Landsberg said.
Texas Highway Patrol and the National Transportation Safety Board are still investigating the crash.
“USW is coordinating with Texas DPS to assist with the investigation and public information efforts,” the university said in a statement. “University administration is communicating with families of the students and coaching staff to provide more information as it becomes available.”
BREAKING: Child Was Driving Truck That Struck Van Killing 9: NTSB – https://t.co/HUSgEIaXJl pic.twitter.com/vh3msWFyRQ
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 17, 2022
