The students were returning from a field trip to look at harvest equipment Monday when the van overturned near Tremonton, about 65 miles northwest of Salt Lake City.

The left rear tire apparently blew out as the driver -- 45-year-old instructor Evan Parker -- tried to pass another vehicle on Interstate 84, patrol Lt. Ed Michaud said. He said speed was a factor.

None of the 11 occupants of the crushed Dodge van was wearing a safety belt, violating a school regulation, and all were ejected from the vehicle as it rolled to the bottom of a 50-foot ravine, according to a preliminary accident report from the Highway Patrol.

Most of the victims were freshmen.

"Some have only been on campus a couple of weeks," university President Stan Albrecht said, calling the deaths an "incredible tragedy."

Eight of the dead were Utah residents and one was from Washington state, said patrol Trooper Jeff Nigbur. Two other students were hospitalized.

Source For Full Article : Click Here

Credit To Author.

Disclaimer

This website contains copyrighted news material - the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We believe that our use of such material for nonprofit educational purposes (and other related purposes) constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in the US Copyright Law at Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. If for any reason you believe that our use of your material on this site does not fall within the fair use guidelines, please immediately notify The Black Vault so that we can promptly address the matter.

Sincerely,

John Greenewald, Jr.

a The Black Vault Headquarters