Kids Killed, Hurt On Way To School Identified
A van collided into the back of an empty animal trailer Thursday morning on Highway 287, killing one adult and five children.
Authorities say the crash happened at 7:30 am, a few miles south of Kit Carson.
Killed in the crash were Austyn Atkinson, 11; Tony Mitchell, 4; Andrew Dawson, 13; Jeremy Franks, 17; and Howard Mitchell, 57, all of Kit Carson.
Franks was from Ordway and was on the football team. According to his father, he recently returned from a mission trip in Guatamala.
State Troopers said Howard Mitchell was a foster parent to many of the children in his van. They were on their way to school when the accident occurred.
Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Chris Sorensen said seven other kids were in the van as well.
Late Thursday, State Patrol identified those hurt in the crash.
Brandon Rollins, 13, was taken to Children’s Hospital in Denver. Daniel Ortega, 16; TJ Mitchell, 18; Robert Miller, 15; and Scott Fua, 17, all of Kit Carson, were rushed to Swedish Hospital in Denver.
William Palmer, 14, of Kit Carson was taken to Keefe Memorial Hospital in Cheyenne Wells with minor injuries. State troopers noted that Palmer had his seat belt at the time of the accident.
Beau McMillen, 3, of Eads, was transported to Children’s Hospital in Denver. State troopers said McMillen was properly restrained in a child safety seat.
The driver of the 2001 Peterbilt that was hit by the passenger van was identified as Jared Kauffman, 26, of Cheyenne, Wyoming. He was taken to Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs and released with minor injuries.
State troopers said speed likely played a big factor in the crash. The wreck occurred in a construction zone where the speed limit was lowered to account for work being done. State troopers were also concerned because many of the passengers in the van were not wearing a seat belt.
“Unfortunately there’s no way to know if such severe injuries or fatalities could have been prevented had they been wearing their seat belts but I can tell you by not wearing your seat belt you increase your chance for injury or death,” said Trooper Heather Cobler.
State Troopers don’t often release the names of crash victims who are minors but said in this case they made an exception.
“There is a lot of public interest in this case that’s why these names were all released,” said Cobler.
The Eads School District issued a statement on their website saying, “While we are awaiting details, it is our understanding that the Mitchell family, with who we are all close, has been affected, and our thoughts and prayers are with them.”
Kiowa County School District RE-2 leaders said they would make counselors available to the kids having a hard time dealing with the loss of their friends and classmates.
