By Jeff Bugher
Latest Update: 2/23/24 10:00 AM:
By Jeff Bugher
On Thursday, February 22nd, a tragic accident claimed the lives of three members of the University of Wyoming Swimming and Diving team. PokesNews.com contacted Master Trooper Gary Cutler of the Colorado State Patrol Friday morning to obtain information regarding the incident.
The tragic sequence of events began as a southbound vehicle on U.S. 287 slowed down to make a left turn onto County Road 37. Close behind, the vehicle transporting 5 people including members of the University of Wyoming swim team swerved to avoid a collision with the decelerating vehicle, the UW swim team's vehicle lost control, resulting in the vehicle rolling several times. Two of the three fatalities were not wearing seatbelts and were ejected from the vehicle, while the third fatality was wearing a seatbelt. Two others in the vehicle were injured, with one suffering minor scrapes and the other occupant more seriously injured to which the extent of the injuries were not disclosed.
UW President Ed Seidel released the names of the victims via a heartfelt message on Friday morning. Killed were Charlie Clark, 19, a sophomore on the men’s team and a psychology major from Las Vegas, Nev.; Carson Muir, 18, a freshman on the women’s team and an animal and veterinary sciences major from Birmingham, Ala.; and Luke Slabber, 21, a junior on the men’s team studying construction management from Cape Town, South Africa.
This heartbreaking incident has sent shockwaves through the University of Wyoming community, Wyoming, and the Mountain West Conference.
2/23/24 8:37 AM: Message from UW President Ed Seidel - Provided by UW Athletics
A Message from the President: Tragic Loss for Our Community
To the UW community:
The University of Wyoming family has suffered a tremendous loss.
As was noted in a communication last evening, three members of our swimming and diving team died in a single-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 287 about 10 miles south of the Wyoming-Colorado border Thursday afternoon. Their families have now been notified.
Killed were Charlie Clark, 19, a sophomore on the men’s team and a psychology major from Las Vegas, Nev.; Carson Muir, 18, a freshman on the women’s team and an animal and veterinary sciences major from Birmingham, Ala.; and Luke Slabber, 21, a junior on the men’s team studying construction management from Cape Town, South Africa.
Two other members of the men’s swimming and diving team were injured in the crash. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
The terrible news of this fatal crash comes as our campus is still reeling from last week’s loss of Army ROTC student Sabrina Geller, of Laramie. Her body was found in the Vedauwoo area Feb. 14. The cause of her death has not been finally determined, but law enforcement officials say there was no sign of 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. That’s certainly the case for our swimming and diving team members as well. They hailed from widely different geographies, but they found a home on our campus and in our student-athlete community. We will miss them all immensely.
As Director of Athletics Tom Burman and I said in the communication last night, our thoughts and prayers are with these students, their families and many friends. The Department of Athletics has made counseling services available to student-athletes and coaches; other UW students in need of support are encouraged to contact the University Counseling Center at (307) 766-2187. The Counseling Center is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and is prepared to support students. Students can also call an after-hours crisis counselor at (307) 766-8989.
Statement from UW Director of Athletics Tom Burman
"My thoughts and prayers are with our swimming and diving student-athletes, coaches, families and friends," UW Director of Athletics Tom Burman says. "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."
The Dean of Students Office, (307) 766-3296, is available for any well-being support or academic assistance students may need.
UW employees may seek assistance through the Employee Assistance Program -- specifically, MINES & Associates, at 1-800-873-7138.
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.
University of Wyoming Athletics is making counseling resources available for its student-athletes and staff through:
• Interim Director of Student-Athlete Well-Being, Rachel Amity
• Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Well-Being, Tedder Easton
Sincerely,
Ed Seidel, President
2/22/24 9:53 PM: University of Wyoming Press Release-
University of Wyoming Mourns the Loss of Three UW Swimmers Killed in Crash on U.S. Highway 287
LARAMIE, Wyo. (Feb. 22, 2024) - Three members of the University of Wyoming swimming and diving team died in a single-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 287 about 10 miles south of the Wyoming-Colorado border Thursday afternoon.
The university is not releasing their names until next of kin are notified.
Two other members of the men’s swimming and diving team were injured in the crash. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
The crash happened between Livermore and Virginia Dale, Colo., at the intersection of Highway 287 and Red Mountain Road, according to reports from the Colorado State Patrol. Initial indications are that the driver swerved and the vehicle went off the road, rolling multiple times. The accident is under investigation.
“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,” UW President Ed Seidel says. “Words are insufficient to express our sadness.”
“My thoughts and prayers are with our swimming and diving student-athletes, coaches, families and friends,” UW Director of Athletics Tom Burman says. “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.”
Other UW students in need of support are encouraged to contact the University Counseling Center at (307) 766-2187. The Counseling Center is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and is prepared to support students. Students can also call an after-hours crisis counselor at (307) 766-8989.
The Dean of Students Office, (307) 766-3296, is available for any well-being support or academic assistance students may need.
UW employees may seek assistance through the Employee Assistance Program -- specifically, MINES & Associates, at 1-800-873-7138.
University of Wyoming Athletics is making counseling resources available for its student-athletes and staff through:
• Interim Director of Student-Athlete Well-Being, Rachel Amity
• Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Well-Being, Tedder Easton
2/22/24 8:50 PM: The Casper Star-Tribune is reporting that the ages of the three athletes were 18, 19, and 21.
2/22/24 7:00 PM: Multiple news organizations including the Casper Star-Tribune and swimming news organization SwimSwam are reporting that three members of the University of Wyoming swim team have tragically passed away in a car accident on U.S. 287 in Larimer County in Colorado. The crash reportedly happened about an hour south of Laramie, Wyoming. SwimSwam reports that University of Wyoming swimming & diving head coach Dave Denniston has said that the team is "devastated".
CBS News Colorado reported that a fatal accident closed both directions of 287 Thursday afternoon. The Colorado State Patrol, Larimer County Sheriff's Office and the Colorado Department of Transportation are investigating the crash.
We will provide more updates as they are released.
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