DENVER (KDVR) — Three University of Wyoming swimmers were killed in a single-vehicle crash on U.S. 287 Thursday, and another two people were hurt.
The deceased victims were identified by the University of Wyoming as Charlie Clark, 19, a sophomore on the men’s team and a psychology major from Las Vegas, Nevada; Carson Muir, 18, a freshman on the women’s team and an animal and veterinary sciences major from Birmingham, Alabama; and Luke Slabber, 21, a junior on the men’s team studying construction management from Cape Town, South Africa.
The three were University of Wyoming swimmers, although they were not traveling for a school function. However, University of Wyoming students often take the road for shopping, socializing and entertainment in Fort Collins and Denver.
Two other members of the men’s swimming and diving team, aged 20 and 21, were hurt in the crash and transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Competitive swimming news outlet SwimSwam spoke with head coach Dave Denniston, who said the team is “devastated.” One of the swimmers was an international student, the coach told the outlet.
The University of Wyoming president also released a statement.
“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,” UW President Ed Seidel said. “Words are insufficient to express our sadness.”
The crash happened between Livermore and Virginia Dale, about 10 miles south of the Wyoming state line near Red Mountain Road.
The call came in at 2:44 p.m.
Investigators said the driver of a Toyota Rav4 swerved, left the southbound lanes, crossed the northbound lanes and rolled multiple times down an embankment, ejecting two people.
U.S. 287 was closed in both directions at County Road 37 Red Mountain Road because of the crash. Crews were later on the scene to assist in alternating traffic in each direction in one lane.
In 2001, a head-on crash with a drunken driver on the same highway killed eight members of the University of Wyoming cross-country team. Clint Haskins, also a University of Wyoming student, swerved into the lane in front of the northbound sport-utility vehicle.
Haskins was the only survivor of that crash 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of Laramie. He pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide and was paroled after 9 1/2 years in prison.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
