Three Wayland Baptist University students were killed in a Saturday afternoon car wreck in Floyd County on June 19.
Sheriff’s deputies and the Lockney Volunteer Fire Department were summoned to the intersection of FM 2286 and FM 2301 near Providence, about 10 miles east of Plainview.
The Floyd County Record reported deputies said a westbound SUV occupied by two males and one female apparently failed to stop at a stop sign and crashed into the rear axle of a northbound semi-trailer. The SUV rolled and landed in a nearby ditch.
Three occupants of the SUV pronounced dead at the scene were Brian Anthony Anderson, 24, a recent graduate from Lancaster, Calif., who planned to pursue a master’s degree at Wayland; Christian Angel Orozco, 20, a junior from Saginaw; and Elena Mia Vazquez, 19, a sophomore from Houston.
“We are so devastated by this terrible loss of life,” WBU President Bobby Hall said. “Our Wayland family, including our board of trustees, are praying for the families of these students. We grieve with them and we pray for peace and comfort during these unimaginable circumstances.”
All involved in Wayland athletics
Anderson, Orozco and Vazquez all were current or past members of Wayland’s wrestling program.
Anderson graduated in May with a fitness management degree and planned to pursue a Master’s in Education degree at Wayland this fall.
Orozco, a pre-engineering major, who sat out last wrestling season, was expected to return to Wayland this fall.
Vazquez arrived on the Wayland campus this past fall for both track and wrestling, but soon shifted to wrestling and had become an active member of the program. She was pursuing a degree in chemistry.
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WBU wrestling coach Kiiler Stephens said all three were good friends and well-liked by the team.
“All three were just beautiful, amazing people,” he said. “We are deeply saddened and my heart goes out to their families and their friends.”
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of our students who we lost today,” said Claude Lusk, vice president of operations and student life. “Words fall short of describing what these families are experiencing. Words also fall short of the grace, peace and comfort that we will be asking our heavenly Father to shower on these families. We ask that you keep these students and their family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.”
Wayland’s Campus Minister, the Baptist Student Ministry director, and counselors were available on campus at the Jimmy Dean Hall lobby late Saturday evening for students or employees.
Lusk added that because so many Wayland students are on summer break, the university also will provide professional counseling for students through their 24/7 online TimelyMD Care program.
Based on reporting by Jonathan Petty of Wayland Baptist University.
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