USU Fieldtrip Turns Car Accident Into a Fatal Nightmare

Practice News Story #11: Accident
November 28, 2007
Madison Hintze
USU Fieldtrip Turns Car Accident Into a Fatal Nightmare

TREMONTON, UTAH-Each year Utah State University celebrates AG Week. Many activities are involved, including a fieldtrip with several students from the Agriculture Department. This year is an AG Week that will never be forgotten.
Around 4 p.m. today the University van carrying one instructor and ten students lost control and rolled off the highway. When Lt. Jason Jensen from the Utah Highway Patrol and his partner arrived at the scene Lt. Jensen said, “When we got there, there were bodies everywhere, literally scattered across the area.” Seven were declared dead at the scene and the remaining four were taken to neighboring hospitals. The speed of the vehicle is unknown at this time. “In my eleven years of experience, to be thrown the way these individuals were thrown, there is now way seatbelts could have been wore.” Said Lt. Jenson. Preliminary investigations have not taken place, but will be done so to determine the actual cause of the accident.
Kyle Holden, a former student and employee of Greenline Implements was in a separate vehicle traveling with the van. Kyle had planned the fieldtrip to Tremonton to show the students a combine in a field near Tremonton. Heading south on I-84 Kyle witnessed the tragic accident. “I was passing Evan, who was driving. I made eye contact with him, at the same time I saw smoke coming from the back of the van. Seconds after that I saw the van go off the shoulder and start to roll. It was the worst thing I have ever seen in my life.” Said Holden. “These were good kids. The few hours I spent with them let me know that. As a student, Evan Parker was my favorite instructor. He is the reason I graduated. To have something like this happen is difficult, it’s hard to put into words.
Noel Cockett, Dean of College of Agriculture said, “This is certainly something that will affect many6 students. This is one of our best classes we’ve ever had. Evan Parker has also said that. This is going to hit at the heart for a lot of people. Some of the students were married and had children. This is going to be very difficult.
The Agriculture Department will meet in the morning to discuss and make plans as how to deal with the University’s faculty and students. Cockett said, “This is a huge shock. We are all in a state of mourning.”