MATHIAS, W.Va. — A Thursday night crash in Hardy County claimed the lives of three James Madison University students.
According to the Hardy County Sheriff’s Department, five male students, all 19-years-old, were in a vehicle that was traveling south on state Route 259 near the community of Mathias at around 10:30 p.m. The vehicle left the highway and struck a tree.
Three of the five died at the scene. Authorities said the driver and one of the passengers was taken by helicopter to a nearby hospital. They are both in critical condition.
JMU Vice President for Student Affairs Tim Miller released a statement to the campus community in connection with the crash.
“It is with a heavy heart and sadness I write to inform you of the loss of several JMU students from a tragic car accident that occurred last night in West Virginia,” Miller said. “In addition to those we have lost, other students from our community involved in the accident sustained life-threatening injuries and remain hospitalized.”
The sheriff’s department told one media outlet there were no skidmarks on the highway. There was also no evidence that an animal had been struck.
The wreck happened near the state line with Virginia. James Madison University is located in Harrisonburg, Va. about 18 miles from the state line.
The names of those involved were not immediately released.