The pickup truck driver who caused a crash thatkilled seven members of a New Mexico college golf team earlier this yearwas not a 13-year-old boy, the National Transportation and Safety Board announced.In apreliminary reportpublished Thursday, the NTSB said a DNA test revealed Henrich Siemens, 38, was the driver of a truck thatcollidedwith a van carrying members of the University of the Southwest’s golf teams in March.The announcement corrects an earlier NTSBreportthat suggested the driver of the 2007 Dodge 2500 was Siemens' young son, who died in the West Texas crash along with his father.“During an on-scene media briefing on March 17, the NTSB stated that the driver of the pickup truck that crashed into the transit van was the 13-year-old male, based on information available at the time,” the NTSB said in astatement.The board also said methamphetamine was found in Siemens' blood.“In addition to the DNA test results identifying the father as the pickup truck driver, NTSB post-crash toxicological testing revealed the presence of methamphetamine in the pickup truck driver’s blood,” the statement said.USWVictims aboard the college van were identified as: Coach Tyler James, 26, of Hobbs, New Mexico; Mauricio Sanchez, 19, of Mexico; Travis Garcia, 19, of Pleasanton, Texas; Jackson Zinn, 22, of Westminster, Colorado; Karisa Raines, 21, of Fort Stockton, Texas; Laci Stone, 18, of Nocona, Texas; and Tiago Sousa, 18, of Portugal.Two other students, Dayton Price, 19, of Mississauga Ontario, Canada, and Hayden Underhill, 20, of Amherstview Ontario, Canada, were taken to local Lubbock hospitals after the crash.RELATED VIDEO:Members of College Golf Team Identified After Texas Crash Kills 9, Including 13-Year-Old DriverThe team had played in a tournament and was heading back to campus before the collision, Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Steven Blancotold reportersin March. The crash occurred at night along a rural highway in Andrews County.While initial reports saidthe pickup truck’s left front tireblew out before the crash, NTSB investigators said on Thursday that they found no evidence the tire experienced any “catastrophic failure.““The crash remains under investigation,” the NTSB said in a statement, “and analysis of the crash facts, along with conclusions and a determination of probable cause, will come at a later date, when the final report on the investigation is completed.”
The pickup truck driver who caused a crash thatkilled seven members of a New Mexico college golf team earlier this yearwas not a 13-year-old boy, the National Transportation and Safety Board announced.
In apreliminary reportpublished Thursday, the NTSB said a DNA test revealed Henrich Siemens, 38, was the driver of a truck thatcollidedwith a van carrying members of the University of the Southwest’s golf teams in March.
The announcement corrects an earlier NTSBreportthat suggested the driver of the 2007 Dodge 2500 was Siemens' young son, who died in the West Texas crash along with his father.
“During an on-scene media briefing on March 17, the NTSB stated that the driver of the pickup truck that crashed into the transit van was the 13-year-old male, based on information available at the time,” the NTSB said in astatement.
The board also said methamphetamine was found in Siemens' blood.
“In addition to the DNA test results identifying the father as the pickup truck driver, NTSB post-crash toxicological testing revealed the presence of methamphetamine in the pickup truck driver’s blood,” the statement said.
USW
Victims aboard the college van were identified as: Coach Tyler James, 26, of Hobbs, New Mexico; Mauricio Sanchez, 19, of Mexico; Travis Garcia, 19, of Pleasanton, Texas; Jackson Zinn, 22, of Westminster, Colorado; Karisa Raines, 21, of Fort Stockton, Texas; Laci Stone, 18, of Nocona, Texas; and Tiago Sousa, 18, of Portugal.
Two other students, Dayton Price, 19, of Mississauga Ontario, Canada, and Hayden Underhill, 20, of Amherstview Ontario, Canada, were taken to local Lubbock hospitals after the crash.
RELATED VIDEO:Members of College Golf Team Identified After Texas Crash Kills 9, Including 13-Year-Old Driver
The team had played in a tournament and was heading back to campus before the collision, Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Steven Blancotold reportersin March. The crash occurred at night along a rural highway in Andrews County.
While initial reports saidthe pickup truck’s left front tireblew out before the crash, NTSB investigators said on Thursday that they found no evidence the tire experienced any “catastrophic failure.”
“The crash remains under investigation,” the NTSB said in a statement, “and analysis of the crash facts, along with conclusions and a determination of probable cause, will come at a later date, when the final report on the investigation is completed.”
source: people.com
