You are hereThree CU freshman involved in fatal accident over the weekend
Three CU freshman involved in fatal accident over the weekend
Two CU students died in a car crash while driving back from the mountains on Colo. 93 last Saturday.
The driver, Haley Hajek, an 18-year-old from Littleton, Colorado, and her friend, Brooke Riemer, a 19-year-old from East Troy, Wisconsin, who were both freshman at the university were killed. There was one other passenger in the vehicle, 19-year-old CU student Alexandra Cunavelis, from South Burlington, Vermont, who was taken to Denver’s St. Anthony Central Hospital with serious injuries.
“Our hearts go out to all the victims of the crash,” said CU Spokesman Bronson Hilliard. "We've conducted outreach to their friends and hallmates through the Office of Victims Assistance. It’s just a tragic, tragic accident,” he said.
The three women were heading northbound on highway 93 in a Nissan Sentra when Hajek lost control of the vehicle and spun into oncoming southbound traffic, colliding with a Chevrolet Equinox. The Chevrolet struck the passenger side of the Nissan, according to the Colorado State Patrol. Officers believe that a combination of icy roads, bad weather and the driver going too fast for conditions are to blame for the crash. Alcohol is not thought to have been a factor.
The two passengers driving in the Chevrolet, Robert Gall, 75, and Caroline Gall, 72, were also taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Robert Gall has been released, but Caroline Gall remains in the hospital, according to state patrol.
The three CU students all lived together in the Darley South dorm at Williams Village on the east side of campus.
The University is providing grief counseling for friends in the dorm, especially to those students who lived on the same hall.
The University would also like to remind students to use caution and to drive carefully when driving in icy and treacherous conditions.
"Going up to the mountains for recreation is of course a great pass time for CU students, but really, folks need to be careful when driving according to the conditions," said Hilliard.