Crash kills three University of Wyoming student athletes

Three University of Wyoming student athletes died Thursday afternoon when the vehicle they were traveling in rolled multiple times on a highway just south of the border with Colorado, the school announced that evening. 

In a message sent to the UW community, school President Ed Seidel identified the three as:

• Charlie Clark, 19, a sophomore from Las Vegas, Nevada, who was studying psychology and competed on the men’s team.
• Carson Muir, 18, a freshman from Birmingham, Alabama, who was studying animal and veterinary sciences and competed on the women’s team.
• Luke Slabber, 21, a junior from Cape Town, South Africa, who was studying construction management and competed on the men’s team.

“They hailed from widely different geographies, but they found a home on our campus and in our student-athlete community,” Seidel said in the message. “We will miss them all immensely.”

Two other members of the university’s swimming and diving team suffered injuries in the crash that were not life threatening, the school said. Their identities have not been released.

The crash occurred at the intersection of Highway 287 and Red Mountain Road, which sits between the Colorado towns of Livermore and Virginia Dale about 10 miles south of the border. The highway connects the university town of Laramie with Fort Collins, Colorado.

“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,” Seidel said in a statement released Thursday evening. “Words are insufficient to express our sadness.”

Authorities are still investigating the crash. 

Initial reports from the Colorado State Patrol, the university said, indicate the driver swerved before the vehicle traveled off the road, then rolled multiple times. No other vehicles were involved.

“My thoughts and prayers are with our swimming and diving student-athletes, coaches, families and friends,” UW Director of Athletics Tom Burman said in a statement. “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,” he added.

In a separate statement, Gov. Mark Gordon said news of the crash left him “heartbroken.”

“[First Lady] Jennie [Gordon] and I join the entire university community and all of Wyoming in mourning this loss, and we ask you to keep their families, friends and loved ones close to your hearts during this difficult time.”

At the Wyoming Capitol, Rep. Trey Sherwood (D-Laramie) asked the House on Friday morning for a moment of silence before reading the names of the swimmers. She also asked for prayers for the student athletes who were injured.

The entire Albany County legislative delegation — Reps. Sherwood, Karlee Provenza, Ocean Andrew and Ken Chestek and Sens. Dan Furphy and Chris Rothfuss — released a statement afterward mourning the loss of the students.

“Our student-athletes are a source of pride for our community and state,” they said. “Your Albany County delegation stands ready to work with the families and university faculty, staff and students impacted by this tragedy to provide resources for healing.”

The deadly crash occurred less than two weeks after the death of another UW student. The body of Sabrina Geller, of Laramie, was found Feb. 14 in the Vedauwoo area. Her death is still being investigated, but authorities have said they do not suspect foul play.

“I attended Sabrina’s memorial service Thursday, along with many from our community, and I was touched by the number of people she had impacted in her short life,” Seidel said in his message to the campus community.

The stretch of highway where the crash occurred has been deadly before for UW student athletes. In 2001, eight members of the school’s cross country team died in a crash near Tie Siding. The group was traveling in a Jeep Wagoneer when it was struck by an oncoming pickup driven by another UW student.

It’s the second fatal accident to touch the Laramie community in less than a week. A young couple and their baby died on Highway 130 west of Laramie on Saturday. 

In response to the most recent crash, the school said it was offering support to students via the University Counseling Center (307) 766-2187, after-hours crisis counselors (307) 766-8989 and the Dean of Students Office at (307) 766-3296.

“As we mourn the loss of these students, let’s do our best and pull together, support those who are suffering, and show the compassion and kindness that characterize what it means to be part of this community,” Seidel said.

WyoFile staff writer Maggie Mullen contributed to this report.

Correction: This story has been updated to correct the location of the Colorado towns of Livermore and Virginia Dale. —Ed.