HOBBS, N.M. (AP) 鈥� Nine people have died in a fiery, head-on collision in West Texas, including six New Mexico university students and a coach returning from a golf tournament, as well as a 13-year-old boy, authorities said.
included University of the Southwest students from Portugal and Mexico. Two Canadian students were hospitalized in critical condition.
A pickup truck crossed the center line of a two-lane road in Andrews County, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) east of the New Mexico state line, and crashed into a van carrying members of the university's men's and women's golf teams, said Sgt. Steven Blanco of the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The state agency later identified the deceased as: Golf coach Tyler James, 26, of Hobbs, New Mexico; and players Mauricio Sanchez, 19, of Mexico; Travis Garcia, 19, of Pleasanton, Texas; Jackson Zinn, 22, of Westminster, Colorado; Karisa Raines, 21, of Fort Stockton, Texas; Laci Stone, 18, of Nocona, Texas; and Tiago Sousa, 18, of Portugal.
Also killed were Henrich Siemans, 38, of Seminole County, Texas, and an unidentified 13-year-old boy who had been traveling with him in the 2007 Dodge 2500 pickup.
Critically injured aboard the van were Canadian students Dayton Price, 19, of Mississauga, Ontario, and Hayden Underhill, 20, of Amherstview, Ontario. Both were taken by helicopter to the University Medical Center in Lubbock, about 110 miles (180 kilometers) to the northeast.
Underhill鈥檚 brother Drew said their parents, Ken and Wendy, were on a plane headed to Texas.
鈥淗ockey was a big part of life for a while, but his true passion is golf,鈥� Drew Underhill said. 鈥淔rom a small town in Ontario, he鈥檚 doing OK.鈥�
The Mexican Federation of Golf posted an online note of condolence to the loved ones of Mauricio Sanchez.
Stone's mother wrote of her loss on Facebook Wednesday.
鈥淪he has been an absolute ray of sunshine during this short time on earth,鈥� Chelsi Stone said in a post. 鈥溾�� We will never be the same after this and we just don鈥檛 understand how this happened to our amazing, beautiful, smart, joyful girl.鈥�
Stone graduated in 2021 from Nocona High School, where she played golf, volleyball and softball. She was a freshman majoring in global business management, according to on the golf team's website.
James' mother, June James, said she knew little about the circumstances of the collision. He coached the men and the women.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 know what happened. It鈥檚 a huge investigation. We don鈥檛 have any idea as of yet,鈥� James said during a brief phone interview.
Team member Jasmin Collum had been scheduled to play but at the last minute decided instead to visit her parents in Houston, her mother said.
鈥淲e knew all those people on board,鈥� Tonya Collum said. "Basically the whole team is gone or in the hospital.鈥�
The National Transportation Safety Board was sending an investigative team to the crash site Wednesday, spokesman Eric Weiss said.
The golf team was traveling in a 2017 Ford Transit van that was towing a box trailer when it collided with the truck, and both vehicles burst into flames, Weiss said. They collided on a two-lane asphalt highway where the speed limit is 75 mph (120 kph), though investigators have not yet determined how fast either vehicle was traveling, he said.
The University of the Southwest is a private, Christian college located in Hobbs, New Mexico, near the state line with Texas.
A memorial was set up Wednesday at the course near campus where the team practices. There were flowers, golf balls and a handmade sign with a cross and the initials USW.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the very least we could to for the players, and of course Coach James,鈥� said Rockwind Community Links Manager Ben Kirkes.
鈥淭hese kids were great kids and they were great, great community members,鈥� said Kirkes.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said on Facebook that she is 鈥渄eeply saddened鈥� by the loss of life.
鈥淭his is a terrible accident. As we await additional information from authorities, my prayers are with the community and the loved ones of all those involved,鈥� she said.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also expressed sympathy.
鈥淲e grieve with the loved ones of the individuals whose lives were horrifically taken too soon in this fatal vehicle crash near Andrews last night," Abbott said.
The teams had been taking part in a golf tournament at Midland College, about 315 miles (505 kilometers) west of Dallas.
鈥淲e are still learning the details about the accident but we are devastated and deeply saddened to learn about the loss of our students鈥� lives and their coach,鈥� University President Quint Thurman said in a statement.
The university that counseling and religious services would be available on campus.
Midland College said Wednesday鈥檚 play would be canceled because of the crash. Eleven schools were participating in the event.
鈥淎ll of the players and their coaches from the participating schools met together early this morning,鈥� Midland College athletic director Forrest Allen said in a statement Wednesday. 鈥淲e were all shocked to learn of this tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers are with USW as they grieve this terrible loss.鈥�
___
Bleed reported from Little Rock, Arkansas, and Snow reported from Phoenix. Associated Press writers Jake Bleiberg and Jamie Stengle in Dallas, and Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report.
___
Attanasio is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues. .
Cedar Attanasio, Jill Bleed And Anita Snow , The Associated Press
