A tragic accident involving a college softball team from Oregon resulted in the death of the team’s head coach and a student athlete, according to reports on Saturday. The incident occurred on Friday night when a pickup truck collided head-on with a bus carrying 10 members of the Umpqua Community College team. The team was returning from a game in Coos Bay, as per the Oregon State Police.
Jami Strinz, 46, the team’s head coach, was driving the Chevrolet Express bus at the time of the accident. She was rushed to a hospital where she was later pronounced dead. Kiley Jones, 19, a freshman who played first base for the team, was declared dead at the scene.
The other passengers on the bus sustained injuries ranging from moderate to severe. They were promptly provided with emergency medical services. The news of the accident has deeply affected the Umpqua Community College community.
Dr. Rachel Pokrandt, the president of the community college, expressed her sorrow over the incident. She asked the community to keep the affected families in their thoughts and prayers. She described the deceased as cherished members of the campus, with Strinz being a passionate and talented coach and Jones an exceptional student-athlete. The entire community is mourning this tragic loss, and their heartfelt condolences go out to the families, teammates, and loved ones of the deceased.
The driver of the pickup truck, identified as 32-year-old Johnathan James Dowdy, was also seriously injured in the accident. He was transported to an emergency medical center. The police have stated that impaired driving is being considered as a primary cause of the crash, and a criminal investigation is currently underway.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek expressed her condolences, stating that her “heart aches” for those affected by the tragedy. She assured the grieving community that Oregon stands with them in their time of loss and grief.