Nine people killed in truck accident in New Mexico

A 13-year-old boy driving a pickup truck crashed into a car carrying members of a college golf team in West Texas, killing nine people, officials said Thursday.

Six members of the Southwestern University golf team, with a campus in New Mexico, died Tuesday night along with their coach, according to police.

The 13-year-old and his 38-year-old father, who were in the truck, also died in a crash near Andrews, Texas.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a Dodge 2500 pickup truck rolled into the opposite lane and directly collided with the transport vehicle, causing both vehicles to burn.

KWES TV in Odessa, Texas, quoted National Transportation Safety Board Vice President Bruce Landsberg as saying that the young man was behind the wheel at the time of the accident.

At age 13, an individual is not legally allowed to drive in Texas. A resident of that state must be 15 years old to receive an Education Permit, which allows you to drive a vehicle with an adult over 21 who holds a driver’s license.

Landsberg also said the car’s left front tire appeared to have exploded before the accident, which occurred with both cars traveling at high speed.

Two Southwestern University students, both Canadians, are in a critical condition in hospital.