Crash in US kills 9 including Texas coach, college golf team members

By Darren Lyn

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HOUSTON, Texas (AA) - Nine people were killed late Tuesday in a head-on crash near Midland in the state of Texas.

Among the dead are the head coach and six members of New Mexico’s University of the Southwest (USW) men’s and women’s golf teams.

The group was returning from a golf tournament in city in West Texas when the crash occurred.

Investigators said the passenger van carrying the golf teams collided with a pickup truck.

Two people were killed in the pickup but two in the team van survived but remain in critical condition at a hospital.

"It's a very tragic scene. Very, very tragic," said Sgt. Steven Blanco of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

"The USW campus community is shocked and saddened today as we mourn the loss of members of our university family," school officials said in the statement to a local television station. "We would ask for prayers for their recovery and for comfort and strength for all of families and friends and students of those whose lives have been lost."

University officials confirmed first-year head coach Tyler James was driving the van when it crashed. The names of the other victims have not yet been released.

Police are still investigating the cause of the crash.