He was six golfers and coach from the University of New Mexico Tuesday was killed When a pickup truck veered head-on into their driveway and crashed into the truck they were traveling in from a championship in West Texas.
Two Southwest University students survived and were in critical condition after being airlifted to Lubbock Hospital.
The students killed were between 18 and 22 years old and were from Portugal, Mexico, Texas, Colorado and New Mexico, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety, which identified them.
Truck driver, Heinrich Siemens, 38 years old, 13 years old Boy They were also killed.
“The University of Washington campus community is shocked and sad today that we are sorry for the loss of members of our college family,” the nearby private Christian school said in a statement.
Here’s what we know about the victims:
Tyler James, 26, was in his first season leading the men’s and women’s golf program at Southwest University. James had previously coached and assigned to other schools, including East Texas Baptist University, where he helped turn golf teams into top competitors, according to a school biography.
James graduated from ETBU in May with a Master of Science degree in Kinesiology. While there, he was a graduate assistant coach for the golf program.
“His dream job, was to be head coach” and he was making his dream come true, said Ryan Irwin, Vice President of Student Engagement and Athletics at ETBU.
After starting his college career playing golf at the University of Ottawa in Kansas, he transferred to Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas, according to his biography on the University of the Southwest website.
“He had a passion for golf, you could tell from the start. He ate, slept and drank pretty much golf,” said Troy Drummond, Howard Payne University’s principal golf coach and associate athletic director of operations.
Walt Williams, a golf coach at Midland College, called James’ death “extremely tragic.”
“He was a wonderful young man and was already working on building a nice program at USW,” Williams said in a statement.
lacy stone“She was an absolute ray of sunshine during this short time on Earth,” her mother, Chelsea, 18, wrote on Facebook on Wednesday.
Chelsea Stone wrote: “We’ll never be the same then we don’t understand how this happened to our amazing, beautiful, smart, playful girl.”
She added that Lacey recently convinced her to get a matching tattoo, and she was “so forever grateful that God gave me the courage to continue it while always keeping that memory with her.”
“If you ever know Lacey, you know she’s probably having the biggest karaoke party she can sing Whitney at the top of her voice,” the mom added. She posted one photo of her and Lee showing off their matching ink — tiny red hearts on the insides of their left arms.
Lacey was called by her high school golf coach, Colby Schneidergan, as one of his favorite kids – someone who was hardworking and optimistic, with a brilliant smile that could light up a room.
“She was kidding, she sang and she lived life to the fullest, and it would be really hard not having her around anymore,” he said.
Schneidergan, who coached Stone in her second, third and third years at Nocona High School, said the tight-knit community two hours northwest of Dallas was “devastated” by her death.
Stone, a sophomore, was majoring in global business and wanted to be “a well-known business owner,” according to her resume. She said her favorite golfing memories were made while riding in the truck with her team.
Travis Garcia 19, was a freshman from Pleasanton, Texas, studying criminal justice with hopes of working for the Secret Service one day, according to one Sports profile on the university’s website.
In a statement, Pleasanton Independent School District athletic director Tab Dumont said the community was in shock. He referred to Garcia as “an exceptional golfer and a great kid” from a large family.
“The thing about Travis is that he worked so hard and everyone saw that and he made everyone around him work as hard as he did,” Pleasanton golf coach Mike Guerra He told the San Antonio Express News. “Travis was a major reason why we qualified for the state championship for the first time in school history last year.”
“He hit me like I lost my son,” Guerra told the newspaper after losing Garcia.
Jackson Zane 22, a junior from Colorado and majoring in hospital management and sports management, according to His biography at the university.
Family friend Heather Sims Schechtel said he has also taught children with special needs through a football league in Westminster.
“Knowing Jackson should have known his beautiful nature, his piercing blue eyes, his quick wit and his swearing stitches would wink,” she said in a Facebook post. “He loved his family, he loved golf and he was loyal to his faith.”
“The afflicted does not do justice,” she said.
Family Reverend Reverend Rick Long told an NBC affiliate zucchini Denver that Zane was a “brilliant student.”
“He’s had a 4.0 this year. He’s been a fantastic golfer and I think he has a chance to go all the way and play at the highest level,” Long said.
One of my sisters told Zhen Long that she was looking forward to growing up with her brother by her side.
“She said, ‘I couldn’t wait to be friends as adults and really enjoy the next season of our lives, and now that’s not going to happen,'” Long said.
Carissa RainesThe 21-year-old was a junior from Fort Stockton, Texas, was studying biology and was on her way to graduate one year ago, her father, Gary Raines, said on NBC’s “TODAY.”
He said she was planning to go back to school to get her master’s degree in forensic science.
“We keep thinking now and then that we’re going to wake up from this terrible nightmare,” he said. “But it doesn’t happen. This is something that happens to others. But now we are the others.”
He said Karissa is survived by three siblings, including a twin brother and three siblings.
Mauricio Sanchez19, was a freshman, according to Student Profile.
According to the Mexican Golf Association, he has played for both Southwest University and Bolgas Bandas Golf Club.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends,” the union said.
Thiago SouzaThe school said, 18, was a freshman at the university Athletics page.
In his autobiography for College Sports America, Sousa described himself as “committed, hard-working, honest, self-confident” and a “fighter.”
“My ultimate dream is… to win a major tournament! For this goal I am ready to give everything because that has been my dream since I started playing,” Souza wrote. “I will work hard on the golf course as well as in the classroom until all my dreams come true!”
Dayton Price, 19, and Hayden Underhill, 20, both from Ontario, Canada, were in critical condition.
Southwest University Vice President Ryan Tipton said Thursday that school president Quint Thurman has traveled to Lubbock to be with their families in the hospital.
Tipton said the two students are “making steady progress.” “One eats chicken soup.”
“Both are stable, recovering, and making more and more progress every day,” he said.
The tight-knit campus, which Tipton describes as a family, was reeling after the loss of his classmates and coach.
He said many students are on spring break, and are eager to return to campus to support each other. Tipton said a memorial will be erected next week.
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