Practice News Story 11: Accident

4 Utah State University Students Die in Accident
P: 11:00 p.m. MT, April 17, 2008

TREMONTON, UT. -- Ten students and one professor from Utah State University’s Agriculture Department were driving east on Interstate 84 on their way back from a field trip when, according to an eye whiteness, the driver rear tier blew out and the van rolled down off the interstate towards the ravine. 4 people were dead at the scene, the remaining were taken to local hospitals.

Professor Evan Parker was driving the van, and the ten agriculture students were in the back. The 4 that died at the scene were: Professor Parker, Steven Bair, Kirt Madsen and Brad Wilcox. Two students in the hospital in critical conditions are Robert Peterson and Jared Nelson.

The van was traveling from Green Line Implements where the group met up after looking at a combine out in the field. Kyle Holden was driving in a separate car by the van when the accident occurred. He said the tier blew and Professor Parker tried to control the van but was unable, loosing control the van rolled 4 to 5 times down the hill. According to Holden bodies were flying out of the van during the roll over.

Noel Cockett, Dean of the college of agricultural said “Professor Parker commented to me saying ‘In fifteen years of teaching these are the best group of kids I’ve thought’ this accident will have a long term affect.” It is agricultural week at the University, it was a week to celebrate the accomplishments of the college, now celebrations are turning into memorials.