Paris Texas Car Crash Details
Two college women basketball players died, and two other players were injured in a two vehicle accident near Paris, Texas on Tuesday, June 3. The four women were part of the Texas A&M-Commerce woman’s basketball team. They had just completed coaching a basketball camp for girls at Paris High School.
Just before 6:30 p.m., at the intersection of Loop 286 and FM 1497, their 2007 Nissan Maxima was stopped and facing southbound when a large tractor-trailer truck heading eastbound collided with the Nissan just as it moved out into the road. The truck struck the passenger side of the car near the back and launched the Nissan into a grassy area nearby.
The driver, 21-year-old Latisha E. Hearne of Dallas, and front passenger, 19-year-old Zeonbia Winbush, are expected by their doctors to recover from the injuries, and both were transported to the hospital. However, Aubrey Butts, 20, and Devon Oliver, 21, who were both rear passengers died in the crash.
“This is an unspeakable tragedy and a loss that is felt by the entire university community.” –Dr. Dan Jones, Texas A&M University-Commerce President
University athletic director Ryan Ivey added, “We are saddened and heartbroken by the recent events.”
On Wednesday night at 9:30 p.m., Texas A&M-Commerce has planned a candlelight ceremony for the victims at Rachel’s Garden. It is asked that those who are planning to attend the ceremony to wear gold and blue.
The car crash is still under investigation, but neither driver impairment nor speed are suspected causes of the accident. The driver of the truck, Brian Lile of Chickasha, Oklahoma, was not hurt in the incident. Since 2000, there have been four fatality crashes at the same intersection, where the traffic is only controlled by caution lights and stop signs.
