Nine people are dead after a pickup crossed into oncoming traffic Tuesday night near Andrews and collided head on with a van carrying a New Mexico university’s golf teams.
The University of the Southwest’s van was carrying both men’s and women’s golf team members.
The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed the identities of all nine people at 3:37 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. The six students from University of the Southwest include 19-year-old Mauricio Sanchez of Mexico, 19-year-old Travis Garcia of Pleasanton, 22-year-old Jackson Zinn of Westminster, Colo., 21-year-old Karissa Raines of Fort Stockton, 18-year-old Laci Stone of Nocona and 18-year-old Tiago Sousa of Portugal. The coach was identified as 26-year-old Tyler James, who was in his first season as the head coach of the University of the Southwest.
The two individuals of the pickup were also identified as 38-year-old Henrich Siemens of Seminole and an unidentified 13-year-old boy.
All nine people were pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace Neri Flores.
Two students were airlifted to a Lubbock hospital. They were identified as 19-year-old Dayton Price of Mississauga, Ontario and 20-year-old Hayden Underhill of Amherstview, Ontario. Price and Underhill are both listed in critical condition at University Medical Center.
The fatal collision happened at 8:17 p.m. Tuesday on Farm-to-Market Road 1788 about half of a mile north of State Highway 115 in Andrews County, the DPS press release detailed.
DPS also stated in the press release that a Dodge 2500 pickup was traveling southbound on Farm-to-Market Road 1788, while a Ford Transit passenger van registered to the University of the Southwest was traveling northbound on Farm-to-Market Road 1788.
For unknown reasons, DPS detailed the Dodge pickup drove into the northbound lane and struck the Ford passenger van head on. Both vehicles caught fire and burned.
The crash is being investigated by the Texas Highway Patrol’s West Texas Region District Crash Team with assistance by the National Transportation Safety Board. The crash investigation is still ongoing.
DPS Sgt. Steven Blanco added the additional detail “there will be autopsies and toxicology done and that will be done at the South Plains Forensic Pathology in Lubbock.”
The University of the Southwest men’s and women’s golf teams were traveling back to Hobbs, N.M., Tuesday night and they were scheduled to return to Midland College on Wednesday. Midland College announced on Wednesday morning the tournament has been cancelled. The University of the Southwest is a private Christian university in Hobbs, N.M. Its enrollment is a little more than 1,000 students.
The fatal collision happened roughly six months after the Andrews High School Band was involved in a fatal collision that killed three, including its band director Darin K. Johns and statistician of the Andrews football team Marc Elbert Boswell.
According to the University of the Southwest’s website, James started his collegiate playing career at Ottawa University. James finished his playing career and graduated at Howard Payne University. He received a Bachelor of Science in Education from Howard Payne University and received a Master’s of Science in Kinesiology from East Texas Baptist University.
GoFundMe has notified the Odessa American of two verified pages for funeral expenses for Raines and medical expenses for Price. The page for Raines is tinyurl.com/yckssbev, while the page for Price is tinyurl.com/8x5faw45.
According to the University of the Southwest website, Raines was a junior from Fort Stockton. She graduated from Fort Stockton in 2019 and was majoring in biology.
Price’s GoFundMe page details “he has third degree burns to his body’s better half.” It also states that Price is in critical condition. Price is a freshman from Mississauga, Ontario.
The University of the Southwest issued a statement at 8:28 a.m. Wednesday:
“The USW campus community is shocked and saddened today as we mourn the loss of members of our university family. Last night, the men’s and women’s golf teams were traveling back to campus from competition in Midland, Texas, when their bus was struck by oncoming traffic. Nine passengers, including the coach, were on the university bus involved in the fatal accident. While the accident investigation is still underway, reports indicate that seven passengers aboard the bus were killed in the crash. Two of the passengers are in critical condition undergoing medical treatment in Lubbock, Texas. USW is coordinating with Texas DPS to assist with the investigation and public information efforts. University administration is communicating with families of the students and coaching staff to provide more information as it becomes available.
USW counseling staff and the worship team will be available on campus today to provide support for students, faculty, and staff. Please keep the families of students, coaching staff, and the USW community in your prayers as we come together to support one another during this difficult time.”
At 9:17 a.m. Wednesday, Midland College issued a press release that included a statement from Midland College President Dr. Steve Thomas and Midland College Athletic Director Forrest Allen.
“We extend our condolences to the USW family,” Thomas stated in the press release. “This is a devastating loss to that school, and words cannot express how deeply hurt we feel for their loss. I have ordered the MC flag to fly at half-staff through Friday to honor the memories of Coach Tyler James and his team.”
“All of the players and their coaches from the participating schools met together early this morning,” Allen stated in the press release. “We were all shocked to learn of this tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers are with USW as they grieve this terrible loss. I have talked with USW’s Athletic Director Steve Appel to let him know that all Midland College athletic team players and coaches are ready to help in any way during this time.”
State Rep. Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) issued a statement on his Facebook page.
“Our hearts are broken over the lives lost in the tragic crash on FM 1788 near Andrews involving the University of the Southwest golf teams. Shelby and I pray for all who are grieving right now.
We also want to express gratitude to Texas Department of Public Safety – West Texas Region, the Andrews County Sheriff’s Office, Andrews Volunteer Fire & Rescue and all other first responders who worked professionally and diligently amid terrible circumstances.”
Governor Greg Abbott issued a press release about the fatal collision.
“We grieve with the loved ones of the individuals whose lives were horrifically taken too soon in this fatal vehicle crash near Andrews last night,” Abbott stated in the press release. “The Texas Department of Public Safety is working closely with local officials to investigate this accident, and we offer our full support to the University of the Southwest and the state of New Mexico. I ask Texans to join Cecilia and me in praying for the families of those whose lives were lost and for the recovery of two critically injured students.”
Congressman August Pfluger also issued a statement on his official Facebook page.
“Praying for the family members and loved ones of the USW golf teams who were killed in a bus accident near Andrews. TX-11 grieves with our neighbors in Hobbs.” Pfluger stated in the press release.
