Texas community grieves the death of 4 softball players in bus crash
Gainesville, Texas – On Saturday, a North Texas community college brought in counselors to support grieving students and canceled athletic events after a tragic accident claimed the lives of four women’s softball players. The incident occurred when an 18-wheeler truck veered into oncoming traffic on a major interstate, colliding with the side of their team bus.
The crash happened late Friday near Davis, Oklahoma, severely damaging the driver’s side of the North Central Texas College team bus, which was being driven by a coach and carried 15 players. The team was returning from a scrimmage against Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma, according to CBS Dallas.
In addition to the four fatalities, two players remained hospitalized on Saturday, with one in critical condition. The other nine players and the coach were treated and released.
“This is the most traumatic event in NCTC’s 90-year history,” said Brent Wallace, President of North Central Texas College, during an emotional press conference in Gainesville, Texas, about 60 miles from the crash site on Interstate 35.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol identified the four deceased players as Meagan Richardson, 19; Brooke Deckard, 20; Katelynn Woodlee, 18; and Jaiden Pelton, 20. All of the victims were from small towns in North Texas near the college.
Three of the players died at the scene, while the fourth passed away at a hospital in Sulphur, Oklahoma, according to Oklahoma Highway Patrol Capt. Ronnie Hampton.
Oklahoma University Medical Center reported that 18-year-old Bailey Buchanan was in critical condition, while Norman Regional Hospital spokesperson Kelly Wells said 19-year-old Rachel Hitt was listed in fair condition.
The tragedy has deeply affected the tight-knit community college of about 10,000 students. Rich Raymond, father of freshman player Emily Kuser, who survived the crash, remarked that many of the girls had been playing together on regional softball travel teams since childhood.
“It’s an incredible family of girls, athletes, and coaches,” Raymond said. “This is such a close community, and even if your daughter isn’t at the school, there’s a lot of pain right now.”
The cause of the 18-wheeler’s sudden swerve across the median into the southbound lanes remains unclear. Police are investigating the accident as a possible homicide.
The truck driver, identified as Russell Staley, 53, of Saginaw, Texas, was treated at the hospital and released. Oklahoma Highway Patrol spokesperson Capt. George Brown stated that no charges were pending against Staley as of Saturday.
On Sunday afternoon, the NTSB tweeted that its investigators found “no evidence of braking or evasive maneuvers by” the truck before it collided with the bus.
NTSB investigators have found no anomalies with brakes on the truck involved in the Oklahoma truck/bus crash. #oklabus
— NTSB (@NTSB) September 28, 2014 NTSB investigators estimate truck traveled 820 feet through median at a shallow angle before striking bus. #oklabus
NTSB investigators have found no anomalies with brakes on the truck involved in the Oklahoma truck/bus crash. #oklabus
— NTSB (@NTSB) September 28, 2014
— NTSB (@NTSB) September 28, 2014 James Fitch, the college’s police chief, described the crash scene as “chaotic,” noting that 11 ambulances and several helicopters responded.
NTSB investigators estimate truck traveled 820 feet through median at a shallow angle before striking bus. #oklabus
— NTSB (@NTSB) September 28, 2014
While the front end of the team bus remained largely intact, the sides were heavily damaged. Initial reports indicated that the weather was clear and the highway dry at the time of the crash.
Hampton mentioned that the truck continued moving off the road after hitting the bus, and it took nearly an hour to locate the semi. Interstate 35, a major trucking route between Oklahoma City and Dallas, reopened early Saturday morning.
The National Transportation Safety Board announced that it was sending a team of investigators to the site and planned a news conference for later that Saturday.
Hampton added that the Highway Patrol’s investigation would take several weeks, with both drivers undergoing standard toxicology tests. He noted that while the details of the crash remain unclear, “something caused the semi-truck driver to leave the roadway and collide with the other vehicle.”
A post on North Central Texas College’s Facebook page read: “We ask for your prayers at this time for our softball team.” The college also scheduled a prayer vigil on campus for Sunday evening.
