TERRE HAUTE, Ind (WTWO/WAWV)– Indiana State University officials held a press conference on Monday afternoon, addressing the car accident that took the lives of three students and injured two others.
In a release, the school says that the campus is grieving the tragic loss of Christian Eubanks, Jayden Musili, and Caleb Vanhooser.
University president Deborah J. Curtis, athletic director Sherard Clinkscales and head football coach Curt Mallory all spoke to media about the aftermath and what the university plans to do moving forward.
President Curtis said she had spoken to the families affected earlier on Monday.
“I’d like to share that our Indiana State University community is mourning the loss of life and directing our heartfelt care to the families of those recovering from this tragedy,” she said. “In my phone calls with each family today, I was able to extend to them our commitment to walk besides them through these difficult days. And that is exactly what we’ll do.”
Mallory recalled the moment Clinkscales told him the news on Sunday morning.
“When I saw Sherard, I knew it was either my son from my immediate family, or someone from our Sycamore family. So the unthinkable, you can imagine the fear my wife and I were going through,” he said. “After settling down, Sherard and his wife were with us, and we got through this together.”
He also shared his gratitude to the wider community for getting them through this difficult time.
“Through tragedy, you find out a lot about people. As I mentioned before, it is the people, that’s what makes Indiana State so special,” he said. ”We’re very humbled and honored at the outpouring of love and support that we have received here within our football program.”
Clingscales echoed those sentiments.
“This community, this Vigo County community, this university, has been unbelievable in wrapping their arms around us. I was at Meijer and a man asked me if could just pray with me, and I said ‘Yes I would,’ and I was so touched,” he said.
Mallory said the team will return to practice tomorrow, as they begin the next steps of the grieving process.
“It’s been a difficult time, and that’s what’s gotten us through it. The people here at Indiana State, the coaches and the players,” he said. “There’s no question there will be part missing, but this is a great time for us to come together as one Sycamore family.”
The entire press conference can be seen here.
