DALLAS — Investigators have determined that the pickup truck struck the van carrying nine college golfers from New Mexico and killed nine people. The driver of the pickup truck was not his son, a Texas man.
Two days after the collision on March 15, the National Transportation Safety Board reported that preliminary findings indicated that the pickup was driven by the driver of the van that struck the University of the Southwest student and coach bus. The accident occurred at a golf tournament.
However, the NTSB stated Thursday that DNA testing confirmed Henrich, a 38-year-old father, was driving and that toxicological tests showed that methamphetamines were present in his blood.
Siemens and his son, six members of the womens and mens golf teams, and their coach all died in the accident.
The collision occurred in Andrews County at 8:17 p.m., which is approximately 30 miles (50 km) east of Texas border to New Mexico. Despite it being rural, roads in the area can become congested with traffic from agriculture and oil-and-gas development.
NTSB claimed that the trucks left rear tire blew just before impact. However, it stated Thursday that investigators have so far not found any evidence of tire pressure loss or other indicators that the tire had failed.
According to the NTSB they were traveling on a northbound lane as well as a southbound route. Near the crash site the roadway was straight, but there was no highway lighting.
Coach Tyler James, 26, of Hobbs in New Mexico, was among those killed in the van. Also among the victims were Travis Garcia (19/19) of Pleasanton Texas; Jackson Zinn (22-22) of Westminster Colorado; Karisa raines (21), Fort Stockton Texas; Laci stone (18-18 Nocona Texas); and Tiago Sosa (18/18), from Portugal.
Two other students were also seriously injured in the van crash.
The NTSB stated that the crash is still under investigation to determine the probable cause.
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