This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Four Utah State University football players were hurt, some seriously, after their SUV was T-boned by a semi-truck in Cache County on Friday.
USU identified the four players as Travis Seefeldt, 22, a nose guard; John Taylor, 21, Edmund Faimalo, 21, who are defensive ends; and Adewale Adeoye, 19, who is a linebacker.
The four players and a former USU softball player, Sarah Vasquez, 22, were driving east on State Road 142 on Friday afternoon when they reached what they may have thought was a four-way stop at State Route 23, in Trenton, according to the Utah Highway Patrol.
But it was only a two-way stop.
Witnesses say their 2002 Chevy Tahoe slowed and appeared to stop, or almost stop, but then pulled into the intersection in front of a southbound semi-truck, UHP reported in a news release. The semi-truck driver, Steve Randall of Preston, Idaho, tried to swerve and avoid a collision.
But the semi, which was hauling 52,000 pounds of milk, struck the Tahoe on the driver's side and pushed it about 75 yards into the front yard of a nearby home, according to UHP.
The crash occurred about 2:25 p.m.
Seefeldt and Vasquez were both flown to McKay-Dee Hospital in medical helicopters in critical condition. Seefeldt, who was driving, suffered broken ribs and a possibly punctured lung, said UHP Lt. Lee Perry. Vasquez, who was the front passenger, suffered possible head injuries, Perry said.
Vasquez was later moved to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. She's still in critical condition, Intermountain Medical Center spokesman Jason Carlton said.
Taylor, Faimalo and Adeoye were taken to Logan-area hospitals in ambulances with non-life-threatening injuries, Perry said.
"Preliminary indications are that no one in the Tahoe was wearing a seatbelt," UHP reported.
The athletes had been at the Newton Dam reservoir and were returning to Logan at the time of the crash, according to UHP.
"We will do everything we can to help all the student-athletes involved in today's car accident and will give them all the love and support they need," said USU head football coach Matt Wells in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved."
USU's interim athletics director, Jana Doggett, added in the statement that "we are hopeful that all will make a speedy recovery."
The Salt Lake Tribune will update this story as more information is available.
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