According to KTAB/KRBC TV in Abilene, a head-on collision involving the University of Southwest golf team’s passenger van and pick-up truck Tuesday night in Andrews County resulted in multiple fatalities, including head coach Tyler James.
James’ bio on the University of the Southwest website states he “spent time as the Coach of the Men’s program at Brownwood High School in Texas where they had 2 team wins and 4 individual victories in his time there. He also spent time as the assistant coach for the Men’s and Women’s golf team at Howard Payne University where he oversaw recruiting, tournament day preparations, and day-to-day practice planning.”
The Howard Payne athletic website listed James as a senior on the 2017-18 men’s golf team, and a graduate of Killeen High School. James finished his playing career and graduated at Howard Payne University where he collected 3 top 10 finishes. He received a Bachelor of Science in Education from Howard Payne University and received a Master’s of Science in Kinesiology from East Texas Baptist University
Investigators have not released the number of fatalities in Tuesday’s 8 p.m. crash, but university officials did say two students were air-lifted to the hospital with serious injuries, and they are the only suspected to survive. Both the men’s and women’s golf teams were involved as they were returning from a tournament in Midland.
An unknown number of people in the pickup truck were also killed.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is still investigation the cause of the accident.
The University of the Southwest shared the following Wednesday morning on their Facebook page:
The USW campus community is shocked and saddened today as we mourn the loss of members of our university family. Last night, the men’s and women’s golf teams were traveling back to campus from competition in Midland, Texas, when their bus was struck by oncoming traffic. Nine passengers, including the coach, were on the university bus involved in the fatal accident. While the accident investigation is still underway, reports indicate that seven passengers aboard the bus were killed in the crash. Two of the passengers are in critical condition undergoing medical treatment in Lubbock, Texas. USW is coordinating with Texas DPS to assist with the investigation and public information efforts. University administration is communicating with families of the students and coaching staff to provide more information as it becomes available.
