Plans set for memorial

Utah State University is holding a public memorial service Nov. 7 at 1:30 p.m. to remember eight students and an instructor who were killed in a 15-passenger van accident Sept. 26 near Tremonton.

The hour-long service will include remarks from L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Stan Albrecht and Interim Provost Noelle Cockett. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir will also perform, said Cody Bingham, Associated Students of USU Agriculture senator.

All the victims from the accident were members of the LDS church.

“We wish to join together one last time as a university community to honor the remarkable men whose lives were so tragically cut short and to express our love and support to their families and friends,” Albrecht said.

Classes will be suspended from 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. so students can attend the service held in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, said Vice President of Student Services Juan Franco. The public is also invited to attend.

Seating on the floor of the Spectrum will be reserved for family members of the victims. Overflow seating will be available in the Taggart Student Center Stevenson Ballroom and the Kent Concert Hall in the Chase Fine Arts Center. The service will also be available online at www.usu.edu.

Doors to the Spectrum will be closed at 1 p.m. so students, faculty and community members are encouraged to arrive early. Parking is available near the stadium and shuttle service will be provided.

Although classes have been suspended in the past for certain campus events, this is a rare occasion and administrators expect the Spectrum to be completely filled, Bingham said.

The accident occurred on Interstate 84 when a group of nine students from the College of Agriculture and their instructor Evan Parker were returning to Logan after an agricultural field trip.

The van’s left rear tire blew out causing the vehicle to skid out of control and roll several times off the right side of the road, said Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Ed Michaud said.

All 10 individuals were ejected from the vehicle. Six were pronounced dead on the scene and two individuals died later that evening.

-mmackay@cc.usu.edu