First Practice News Article

Fatal Accident Takes the Life of 8 Utah State Aggies

September 5 brought a solemn silence to the campus of Utah State University. It was Agricultural Week. A yearly field trip had been scheduled to take a group of Agriculture students to Tremonton. A day of fun and learning turned tragic around four o’clock that evening. The group of twelve, eleven of which were in the University van driven by Instructor Evan Parker, headed back to Logan on Interstate 84. Just outside of Tremonton the vehicle had some sort of mechanical malfunction and the driver was unable to gain control. The van appeared to have rolled several times, ejecting all individuals from the vehicle, before landing on the west side of the road on its side. The preliminary investigation has revealed no evidence of seatbelt usage by any individual.

Kyle Holden, a former student of the Agriculture Department, employee of Greenline, and field trip tour guide for the day, was also a witness to the tragic accident. Kyle had taken his personal vehicle due to other personal engagements that evening. In a press conference following the accident, Kyle described the real-life horror, “I can’t believe this has even happened. I was passing Evan just before the accident happened; I know this because I looked at him as I was passing. I saw a black smoke coming from what appeared to be the back tire. Evan’s face changed as though he had to get control-bodies were shooting out, I can hardly describe.” The question came up as to whether or not alcohol or drugs were involved in anyway. “These are not kids that drink or smoke, they are good homegrown farm kids. Some are married and have children and some are newly returned home from LDS missions. These are good kids.” Stated an emotional Kyle Holden.

Lt. Jason Jenson, a Utah Highway Patrol Officer said the van was, ‘absolutely destroyed.’ Of the eleven individuals in the van, eight of them have been pronounced dead and 3 of them have been taken to local hospitals in critical condition. Medical personnel arrived on the scene within five minutes of the accident, including two units of Life Flight. The investigation of the accident could take months, even years to determine the actual cause of the accident.

Utah State President Stan Albrecht was also at the Press Conference. “This is a great tragedy for our University.” Stan stated the University vehicles have a detailed inspection every two years. The cause of the vehicle malfunction is not known at this point, but heavy investigation will later be able to determine the actual cause. The University has not yet made a plan for a memorial service, but will be holding one within the coming days.