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Updated at 6:30 p.m. April 30Three University of Oklahoma meteorology students were killed Friday evening on Interstate 35 near Tonkawa in Kay County, the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety said. First responders pronounced the three dead at the scene, according to a DPS news release. They were in a Volkswagen Tiguan, according to the release. They were on their way home after storm chasing in Kansas, DPS said. The second vehicle involved in the accident was a tractor-trailer. The driver was treated and released.According to DPS, the students’ car was driving southbound on I-35 when it hydroplaned and lost control, sliding off the highway. It then returned to the highway and blocked the outside lane after it “became disabled.” In a statement, OU said: “The university is devastated to learn of the tragic passing of three students. Each were valued and loved members of our community. At this time, we ask the public to respect the privacy of their families.”The OU School of Meteorology also released a statement Saturday. It read:”Earlier today, the OU School of Meteorology received devastating news that three of our students were involved in a fatal car crash last night. We have spent the past several hours working to confirm the information, all in the hopes that what we learned early today was false. We have since learned that the reports we received were accurate, and university officials are in contact with the families.”We are deeply saddened and our sincerest condolences go out to all affected families and friends. This news comes at a time in the semester when we are diligently preparing for the close of our studies and celebrating our graduates. Our leadership and faculty stand ready to support each of our community members in the days, weeks, and months ahead as we all grieve this unthinkable heartbreak.”
TONKAWA, Okla. —
Updated at 6:30 p.m. April 30
Three University of Oklahoma meteorology students were killed Friday evening on Interstate 35 near Tonkawa in Kay County, the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety said.
First responders pronounced the three dead at the scene, according to a DPS news release.
They were in a Volkswagen Tiguan, according to the release. They were on their way home after storm chasing in Kansas, DPS said.
The second vehicle involved in the accident was a tractor-trailer. The driver was treated and released.
According to DPS, the students’ car was driving southbound on I-35 when it hydroplaned and lost control, sliding off the highway. It then returned to the highway and blocked the outside lane after it “became disabled.”
In a statement, OU said: “The university is devastated to learn of the tragic passing of three students. Each were valued and loved members of our community. At this time, we ask the public to respect the privacy of their families.”
The OU School of Meteorology also released a statement Saturday. It read:
“Earlier today, the OU School of Meteorology received devastating news that three of our students were involved in a fatal car crash last night. We have spent the past several hours working to confirm the information, all in the hopes that what we learned early today was false. We have since learned that the reports we received were accurate, and university officials are in contact with the families.
“We are deeply saddened and our sincerest condolences go out to all affected families and friends. This news comes at a time in the semester when we are diligently preparing for the close of our studies and celebrating our graduates. Our leadership and faculty stand ready to support each of our community members in the days, weeks, and months ahead as we all grieve this unthinkable heartbreak.”