Practice News Story 11: Accident

Posted:Apr.17,2008,11 p.m. MT
TREMONTON, UT- A Utah State University van carrying Agriculture major students rolled over on Interstate 84 west of Tremonton, around 4 p.m. on today (April 17, 2008). Utah Highway Patrol responded on scene just after 4 as Lt. Jason Jensen said that he believes the cause to be from driving way too fast as that particular highway is very bumpy and heard that the van could have had some tire problems. “It was a horrific scene, the van looked like it had rolled several times and there were bodies scattered everywhere. Of my 15 years of serving this is by far the worst accident I have ever seen, something that the whole community will be affected by”, said Trooper Jensen.
After interviewing Kyle Holden, who was on the field trip with the kids but had driven separately, said that he saw the whole thing happen. The rear tire on the drivers side blew and the van started to swerve. I was starting to pass them because my cruise was set at about five over and they were in the slow lane, right as I did it tire blew. There were 11 people in the car, which included Professor Evan Parker and 10 other Agriculture students. Since it is Agriculture week , thought it would be a good idea to take the kids to see a combine in a field. Kyle said that Evan told him earlier in the trip that he had never seen a better group of students, so this is a major tragedy.
Noel Cockett who is the Dean of College of Agriculture said that there are reported to be 4 pronounced dead at the scene which would include Evan Parker. Robert Peterson and Jared Nelson are two students were life flighted and are alive. “This is really a huge tragedy as these were excellent students, and to have it happen on their “Ag” week is sickening”.
This week is Utah State’s Agriculture week, this is a week consisting of many activities that have to do with agriculture and that is why there are tractors and different farming machinery all over the campus. Noel said that those activities have been cancelled and a memorial service is in play.