Ozark Christian College student dies in Kentucky
An Ozark Christian College student has died in Paducah Kentucky after a van in which he was riding was hit from the rear by an 18-wheeler.
19-year-old Jace Smothers, of Norton, Kansas, a student at OCC, died.
Four others in the van, including one other OCC student, identified as Brandon Musselman, received non-life-threatening injuries. The four were working on Christ in Youth (CIY) fellowships.
Kentucky State Patrol spokesman Bryan Luckett reportedly said at least 19 people were involved in the crash.
Five were life-flighted to hospitals in Nashville, Tennessee, and Evansville, Indiana. Eight others were transferred by ambulance to hospitals in the area of the crash.
The cause of the crash has not officially been determined, but Luckett said witnesses at the scene reported that eastbound traffic was moving very slowly at the time the 18-wheeler hit the rear of one vehicle.
Ozark Christian President Matt Proctor made the following announcement on the school’s Twitter site:
“OCC is mourning the tragic loss of our beloved student, classmate, and friend, Jace Smothers. Please join us in praying for our Ozark family and especially for Jace’s family.”