By Gigi Picard ’22
Sports Editor
Photo Courtesy of the University of the Southwest Athletics
On March 15, the University of the Southwest men’s and women’s golf team van suffered a fatal head-on collision with a pick-up truck that killed nine people on a Texas road. CBS 7 reported that two of the nine deceased include a 13-year-old boy who was behind the wheel of the truck and his 38-year-old father, Henrich Siemens, who was in the passenger seat. ABC News reported that the other seven deaths include the golf team’s head coach, Tyler James, and student-athletes Maurico Sanchez, Travis Garcia, Jackson Zinn, Karisa Raines, Laci Stone and Tiago Sousa. There were two survivors of the crash: Dayton Price and Hayden Underhill, both of whom were on the university’s golf team. Initially in critical condition, Price and Underhill were taken to a hospital in Texas after the crash. CBS 7 stated the two were stabilized as of March 16.
Photo Courtesy of the University of the Southwest Athletics
As reported by CNN, the National Transportation Safety Board Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg said the early investigation revealed “the left front tire of the pickup was a spare that failed, causing the vehicle to pull hard to the left into oncoming traffic of a two-lane roadway.” Landsberg said it was likely that both the truck and the van were driving close to the speed limit of 75 miles per hour.
According to the Texas Department of State’s website, minors can start “the classroom phase of a driver education course at 14 years of age, but you cannot apply for a learner license until you are at least 15 years of age.”
The Associated Press reported that golfers near the University of the Southwest campus put together a memorial at the team’s practice course. According to this source, “Groundskeepers placed flowers, golf balls and a hand-made sign with a Christian cross and the initials USW.”
Ben Kirkes, the Rockwind Community Links Manager, said to the Associated Press, “We have a memorial. It’s the very least we could [do] for the players and of course coach James. It’s a tough time.”