Coach is among several killed after horror bus crash carrying University of Southwest’s golf teams in Texas
- Texas Department of Public Safety said 17-person bus hit the Ford F-150 head-on
- It was not said how many people were killed. The vehicles burst into flames
- Department Sgt. Steven Blanco said the crash occurred at around 8:17 p.m.
- The university confirmed the crash in a post of Facebook shortly after midnight
Several people have been killed after a bus carrying University of the Southwest men and women’s golf teams was involved in a head-on crash with a truck in Texas, including the team’s head coach.
It was not immediately clear how many people were killed, but the university’s president confirmed coach Tyler James was among the fatalities, as well as several students. He said two students survived and were airlifted to hospital.
The Texas Department of Public Safety said the bus could carry up to 17 people, but due to the nature of the crash the number of fatalities was not yet known.
The department said the bus carrying the New Mexico university’s teams collided head on with a Ford F-150 head-on, causing fatalities in both of the vehicles – which also burst into flames.
Department Sgt. Steven Blanco said the crash occurred at around 8:17 p.m. about nine miles from the city of Andrews, found northwest of Midland-Odessa.
‘Both suffered extremely heavy damage,’ Blanco told NBC affiliate KWES of Midland.
‘It’s a very tragic scene,’ Blanco added. ‘It’s very, very tragic.’
It was not immediately clear how many people were killed, but the university’s president confirmed the team’s coach – Tyler James (pictured) – was among the fatalities, as well as several students. He said two students survived and were airlifted to hospital
Several people have been killed after a bus carrying University of the Southwest men and women’s golf teams was involved in a head-on crash with a truck in Texas
He said that the university-owned bus was travelling from a golf tournament in West Texas, and described it as a passenger van.
The teams had been scheduled to play in a tournament on Tuesday at Midland College, about 315 miles west of Dallas.
President Quint Thurman said: ‘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.’
‘My understanding is that two of our students have survived and have been airlifted to University hospital in Lubbock with serious injuries,’ Thurman added.
‘We would ask for prayers for their recovery and for comfort and strength for all of families and friends and students of those whose lives have been lost.’
Thurman named the coach as Tyler James, who was entering his first season as a coach of the men’s and women’s golf teams, according to an online biography.
The university confirmed the crash in a post of Facebook shortly after midnight on Wednesday, calling the crash ‘fatal’.
The University of the Southwest confirmed the crash in a post on Facebook (pictured)
Pictured: A sign at the University of the Southwest, based in Hobbs, New Mexico (file photo)
‘The University of the Southwest can confirm that there has been a fatal bus accident involving the USW men’s and women’s golf teams,’ the statement said.
‘The university is currently attempting to notify family members of those involved in the accident. Counseling and religious services will be available to students, faculty, and staff on campus. The university will continue to provide additional information as it becomes available,’ it added.
An investigation into the cause of the crash is on-going.
The University of the Southwest is a private, Christian college located in Hobbs, New Mexico, near the state’s border with Texas.
The crash happened in the same area – but not the same roadway – where three people were killed in November when a pickup truck crashed into a school bus carrying members of the Andrews High School band.
The high school’s band director, the school bus driver and the driver of the pickup truck all died in that crash.