A tragic accident on a Colorado highway claimed the lives of three University of Wyoming swimmers on Thursday afternoon, while two other team members sustained injuries. The victims, whose identities have not been disclosed, were an 18-year-old woman and two men aged 21 and 22, as per the information provided by the state police.
The accident occurred on US Highway 287, approximately 10 miles from the Wyoming-Colorado border and about 25 miles north of Fort Collins, Colorado. The vehicle, heading southbound, veered off the road around 2:44 p.m., rolling multiple times, according to the university’s statement. Two student-athletes were thrown from the car during the crash.
Two additional members of the university’s swimming and diving team, aged 20 and 21, were injured but are expected to recover. The incident has left the university community in shock and mourning.
University of Wyoming’s head swim coach, Dave Denniston, expressed his team’s devastation over the incident. University President Ed Seidel also shared his grief, stating, “We are heartsick at the news of this terrible tragedy for our university, our state, our student-athlete community and, most importantly, the families and friends of these young people. Words are insufficient to express our sadness.”
The Colorado State Police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. Meanwhile, the university’s women’s swim team is participating in the Mountain West Championships in Houston, Texas, where they recently set a school record in the 800 freestyle relay.
Tom Burman, UW Director of Athletics, expressed his condolences, stating, “It is difficult to lose members of our University of Wyoming family, and we mourn the loss of these student-athletes. We have counseling services available to our student-athletes and coaches in our time of need.”
This is not the first time the university has experienced such a tragedy. In September 2001, eight Wyoming cross-country and track runners were killed in a head-on collision on the same highway. The group was returning from team bonding activities when a drunk student crossed the dividing line and crashed into the team’s vehicle. The student was later charged with aggravated vehicular homicide and served 10 years in jail.