A fatal crash that claimed the lives of eight fellow Wyoming athletes and left three members of the University of Wyoming swimming and diving team injured occurred when their sport utility vehicle went off-road and overturned on a remote roadway. Between Laramie and Fort Collins, Colorado, on US 287, approximately 10 miles (16 km) south of the Wyoming-Colorado border, occurred the most recent collision on Thursday afternoon. According to a University of Wyoming release, the two injured team members were anticipated to make it out of the incident.
The statement stated that the Toyota RAV4 sport utility vehicle, carrying five occupants, veered, skidded off the roadway, and repeatedly turned over. There were two ejections. Three people were killed in the crash: Carson Muir, 18, a freshman on the women’s team and a student in animal and veterinary sciences from Birmingham, Alabama; Luke Slabber, 21, a junior studying construction management from Cape Town, South Africa; and Charlie Clark, 19, a sophomore psychology major from Las Vegas. A Colorado State Patrol statement stated that the two injured guys, ages 20 and 21, were transported to hospitals. The reason of the accident was unknown at the time and was being looked into. According to the patrol statement, the SUV was traveling south and didn’t seem to be part of a team outing.
President of the University of Wyoming Ed Seidel issued a statement saying, “We are heartbroken to learn of this terrible tragedy for our university, our state, our student-athlete community, and, most importantly, the families and friends of these young people.”
On the often travelled two- and three-lane highway that snakes through the picturesque foothills of the Rocky Mountains, the weather was fine and the conditions were clear at the time. Blind curves, passing cars, wildlife, and traffic coming into and going out of intersections are common risks.
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