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| Prairie View Track Members Killed in Van AccidentFebruary 11, 2000By Ryan McGinty KARNACK, TX - Four members of the Prairie View A&M University men's track team died Thursday night en route to an indoor track meet in Arkansas. Five students and a coach were also injured when their passenger van flipped over on a dark East Texas highway. The four members who were confirmed dead were Houston Watson, Sam Sturns,Jerome Jackson and Vernon James. The driver, who was pinned inside after the van rolled over, died at the scene along with two other students. Another student died on the way to LSU Health Science Center in Shreveport, La. Their ages were not available at presstime. Coach Hoover Wright, along with Lewis Edmonson and Rashad Shelton, were listed in serious but stable condition. Wright was transported to Marshall Regional Hospital and is being monitored in the intensive care unit. Three students listed in stable condition are Trenton Harris, David Atteberry and team trainer Lamar Harris.The accident happened on Texas Highway 43, which locals describe as dark and very narrow. One witness described the accident as "the worst thing they have ever seen." "At this point, it looks like something caused the vehicle to go out of control," said Department of Public Safety Spokesman Mike Cox. "It eventually rolled and ended up on its top in a dirt driveway." An accident reconstruction team will do a more detailed investigation later this morning. Classes at the 6,000-student campus are canceled today and a Memorial service will be held this morning at 10 to remember the students. According to news reports, Prairie View A&M president Dr. Charles Hines, has also canceled the trips of other athletic teams who were en route to Arkansas due to snowy conditions. A press conference will be held at noon in Marshall, TX. The van accident was the fifth involving a college team this month.
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