USU Van Crash Claims Several Lives
Posted: 7:02 p.m. MST, April 18, 2007
TREMONTON, Utah—At around 4 p.m. on April 18, 2007, a van from Utah State University crashed on Interstate 84 just west of Tremonton. The van was carrying 10 students along with the driver, professor Evan Parker. They were returning from a field trip to Green Line Implements. An employee from Green Line Implements, Kyle Holden, was passing the van when the left rear tire blew. When asked about the situation, Holden responded, “I don’t know how long it will take for me to get over this one. I could have been in the van.”
Lt. Ed Michaud and Jason Jensen were the first patrolmen to arrive at the scene. “It looks as if no one was wearing seatbelts. They were all ejected from the van,” said Michaud when asked about what he saw upon arriving. “What do I do now? I didn’t know where to begin,” said Jensen when asked about his thoughts when he first saw the scene.
The President of USU, Stan Albrecht, commented on the accident saying, “Our University will handle this in a very caring and professional manner. We take care of our students.” He also said there are plans for a memorial service for the victims of the crash.
Two passengers, Robby Peterson and Jared Nelson, were life-flighted to McKay Dee and Ogden Regional Hospitals and two others were taken by ambulance to the Brigham City hospital where they were later died. The other seven passengers, including professor Parker, were pronounced dead at the scene. The condition of both Peterson and Nelson is still unknown at this time.
