The University of Wyoming community is currently experiencing a period of profound and collective mourning following a catastrophic single-vehicle accident that claimed the lives of three promising young student-athletes. The incident, which occurred just across the Wyoming-Colorado border, has sent shockwaves through the Laramie campus and the close-knit world of collegiate athletics. What was meant to be a routine trip for five members of the university’s men’s swimming and diving team ended in a scene of devastation, leaving families, teammates, and faculty grappling with an overwhelming sense of loss.
The tragedy occurred on Tuesday afternoon, February 23, 2026, on a notoriously dangerous stretch of U.S. Highway 287. The location—the intersection with Red Mountain Road, between Livermore and Virginia Dale, Colorado—is known for its high-altitude winds and unforgiving terrain. According to preliminary reports from the Colorado State Patrol, the accident happened shortly before 2:45 p.m., under circumstances that remain the subject of an intensive forensic investigation. The vehicle, a Toyota RAV4 carrying five young men, was traveling southbound when it suddenly veered off the road, leading to a violent sequence that culminated in the vehicle rolling multiple times.
The victims represented the vibrant, international spirit of the University of Wyoming’s athletic program. Among those who lost their lives was 19-year-old Charlie Clark, a sophomore from Las Vegas, known among his peers for his energy and dedication to the team. Joining him in the tragic toll was 21-year-old Luke Slabber, a junior from Cape Town, South Africa, who had traveled to pursue his academic and athletic dreams in the American West. The third victim, 18-year-old Carson Muir, was a freshman from Birmingham, Alabama, who had just begun his collegiate journey, full of the potential and excitement that define the start of a student-athlete’s career. The diverse hometowns of these three young men underscore the wide-reaching impact of this tragedy, as grief ripples from the deserts of Nevada to the southern reaches of Africa and the heart of Alabama.
Immediately after the rollover, two other team members were found at the scene with injuries that, while traumatic, were ultimately non-life-threatening. These survivors were transported to a nearby medical facility, treated, and have since been discharged. Notably, one of them was driving at the time of the accident. The Colorado State Patrol reported that the force of the rollover ejected two occupants, highlighting the sheer violence of the crash and the critical nature of the ongoing investigation by crash reconstruction experts.
Sheriff’s deputies and state troopers are working meticulously to determine the reason behind the swerve that initiated the fatal sequence. As of Friday, February 27, officials stated that no potential contributing factors have been ruled out. The investigation is analyzing a variety of variables, including vehicle speed, possible driver impairment, and potential mechanical failure or external distractions. Highway 287 is a vital but challenging route for travelers between Laramie and Northern Colorado, and investigators are also reviewing weather conditions and road surface integrity at the time of the 2:45 p.m. impact.
At the University of Wyoming, the atmosphere is one of stunned, aching quiet. The swimming and diving team is a small, family-like unit within the larger athletic department, and the simultaneous loss of three members is a historically significant blow. University President Ed Seidel and Athletic Director Tom Burman issued statements of support, emphasizing that the institution’s focus remains on the mental and emotional well-being of surviving students and the families of the deceased. Counseling services have been made available around the clock, and a temporary memorial has begun to form near the university’s aquatic center, where teammates and fellow students have left goggles, flowers, and handwritten notes in the thin mountain air.
This incident serves as a harrowing reminder of the fragility of life and the inherent risks students often face while traveling between regional hubs. For the town of Laramie, which takes immense pride in its “Cowboy” spirit and the accomplishments of its student-athletes, the deaths of Charlie, Luke, and Carson feel like a personal loss for every resident. The university has announced that a formal vigil will be held to honor the three young men, providing a space for the community to come together to celebrate the lives of athletes who were not only competitors in the pool but also scholars, friends, and beloved sons.
The legal and procedural follow-up to the accident will likely take months, as toxicology reports and digital data from the vehicle’s onboard systems are analyzed. However, for the survivors and the families left behind, the timeline is measured not in weeks of investigation but in the permanent absence of three bright futures. The “Today” show and other national outlets have covered the story, extending the circle of empathy around the Wyoming campus, but the heart of the mourning remains local—centered in locker rooms, classrooms, and dormitories where these three young men were a daily presence.
As the Colorado State Patrol continues its work near the Livermore intersection, the university is trying to balance honoring the deceased while supporting the survivors. The road ahead for the swimming and diving team is one of recovery and resilience, but the memory of February 23 will remain a somber landmark in the school’s history. It is a story of a journey interrupted, of candles extinguished before they could fully shine, and of a community that, in the face of unimaginable heartbreak, must find a way to move forward while carrying the legacy of Charlie, Luke, and Carson with them.