3 Wyoming Swim Team Members Killed in Single-Car Accident in Colorado

zach bacharContributor IFebruary 23, 2024

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Three University of Wyoming swimmers died Thursday in a single-vehicle crash in northern Colorado, according to Ryan Thorburn of the Casper Star-Tribune.

Wyoming swim coach Dave Denniston said that the team is “devastated,” and the program is set to release more information once the families of the victims have been notified. Per Thorburn, two other passengers also suffered injuries related to the crash.

The three swimmers were 18, 19, and 21 years old. They were killed in the crash at approximately 2:45 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. 287 and Mountain Road northwest of Livermore in Larimer County, per the Colorado State Patrol.

“We are heartsick at the news of this terrible tragedy for our university, our state, our student-athlete community and, most importantly, the families and friends of these young people,” university president Ed Seidel said, via the school’s official website. “Words are insufficient to express our sadness.”

The Cowboys swim team is scheduled to compete in the Western Athletic Conference championships starting on Feb. 28 and running through March 2 in Texas.

“My thoughts and prayers are with our swimming and diving student-athletes, coaches, families and friends,” said Wyoming athletic director Tom Burman. “It is difficult to lose members of our University of Wyoming family, and we mourn the loss of these student-athletes.”

The crash is under investigation, per the school.