A high school basketball coach and two of his players, including his daughter, have been left injured after a fatal car crash in Arkansas.
Dylan Wagoner, 23, died after a head-on collision with a vehicle being driven by Greenland School District coach Jeremy Schopper on Tuesday near the 2200 block of U.S. Highway 71.
According to Arkansas State Police, Wagoner crossed into oncoming traffic and struck Schopper’s vehicle, which left the road and went into a ditch. He had his daughter and another player, both 16, in his car.
Meanwhile, Wagoner’s vehicle rolled over on the highway and he was ejected from it. Sebastian County Coroner Kenneth Hobbs told People that Wagoner died of blunt force trauma.
Both students received treatment for minor injuries and were later released from hospital. Schopper was initially airlifted to Washington Regional Medical Center before being transferred to a hospital in Little Rock.
To make matters worse, Greenland mayor Jim Renfrow revealed the bus carrying the rest of the basketball team was behind Schopper’s vehicle and watched the incident unfold.
High school basketball coach Jeremy Schopper has been injured after a head-on car crash
In a statement, the Greenland School District said: ‘Special thank you from Pirate Nation to Sebastian County, Arkansas State Police, first responders, staff and community who have assisted and responded to the personal vehicle incident involving students and a staff member last night upon their return from the basketball game at Mansfield.
‘Please continue to keep all impacted by this in your thoughts and prayers. We are thankful for our community and the outpouring of support thus far.’
In a different post, the Greenland School District also announced that a bank account has been set up to allow people to donate to the Schopper family’s medical expenses.
It has also been confirmed that Friday’s game against Pea Ridge is cancelled and has offered counseling to everyone involved.