(StraightNews.org) – Three University of Wyoming swimmers died in a car crash on February 22 near the Colorado border. Two others were injured during the accident on US 287 when their utility vehicle rolled over, having veered off-road. The five athletes were inside the Toyota RAV4 when it reportedly spun over several times, and two people were thrown from it. The two injured men, aged 20 and 21, were taken to hospital and are expected to recover fully.
The three students who died were 19-year-old Charlie Clark, a Las Vegas native studying psychology; Carson Muir, an 18-year-old from Birmingham, Alabama, who studied animal and veterinary sciences; and Luke Slabber, a construction management student from Cape Town, South Africa.
The Colorado State Patrol agency issued a statement saying that initial inquiries suggested a vehicle traveling in front of the students slowed suddenly, prompting the driver of the Toyota RAV4 to veer swiftly to the left, which brought it off-road and caused it to roll. The agency emphasized, however, that investigations are ongoing and no conclusions have been reached.
University of Wyoming President Ed Seidel issued a statement saying, “We are heartsick at the news of this terrible tragedy,” while Director of Athletics Tom Burman said, “My thoughts and prayers are with our swimming and diving student-athletes, coaches, families, and friends.” Clark was a sophomore and Slabber a junior on the men’s swim team, while Carson Muir was a freshman on the women’s team.
The section of the US 287 where the crash occurred is notorious as an accident black spot and is known locally as the “Highway of Death.” The Colorado Department of Transportation has reportedly spent millions to improve safety there following 15 fatalities and more than 500 accidents in just over a decade. Last year, the Department said it would undertake a complete safety study to understand why this 30-mile stretch from Colorado Highway 14 to the Wyoming state line has earned its fearsome reputation.
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