Members of the Umpqua Community College softball team faced a tragic event on Friday night when a two-vehicle accident claimed the lives of their coach and one player. The incident happened when a driver crossed the center line and collided with a bus carrying ten team members.
The bus was driven by 46-year-old Jami Strinz, the team’s coach. He was rushed to the hospital but sadly passed away shortly after. Kiley Jones, a 19-year-old player, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
The Umpqua Community College athletics department expressed its sorrow on social media, stating, “We are deeply saddened to confirm that one of our student-athletes and one of our coaches lost their lives in the accident.” They asked the community to keep the families affected in their thoughts and prayers.
The driver of the other vehicle was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Other passengers on the bus sustained injuries that ranged from moderate to serious, and they received emergency medical care.
Authorities indicated that impaired driving is believed to be a primary cause of the accident. This heartbreaking incident has left the college community in mourning, as they remember the lives lost and support those who are recovering.