HOBBS, N.M. — It’s been over two years since a head-on crash between a truck and a University of the Southwest van on Highway 1788 in Andrews County. The crash killed both passengers of the truck and seven of nine passengers in the van who were part of the school’s golf team.
In April of 2023, a wrongful death claim was filed against USW. The university announced on May 16, 2024 that the lawsuit has been resolved.
The main goal of the lawsuit was to have USW change their travel procedures. The university shared those changes to their transportation program allowing some closure for the families involved.
A night that won’t be forgotten now leading to lasting change.
“If you get safer practices then that is the best that they can do through this awful situation," said James Hada, partner at Sico Hoelscher Harris LLP who represented Mauricio Sanchez's family. Sanchez was one of the seven who died in the crash.
University of the Southwest has made several changes to their transportation program, including selling all of their buses and contracting an outside transportation company. That company will provide commercial buses and drivers, while also eliminating the need to tow any equipment.
When the crash happened in March of 2022, the driver of the van was the coach and they were towing a trailer.
“They’re not asking their coaches to drive to an away event, coach all day, and then turn around and drive the students all the way back, just to turn around and do it again the next morning – which was the case with the golf team that day," Hada said.
Hada shared his thoughts on closure for the Sanchez family in this case against USW.
“The Sanchez family fought for what they wanted, and after getting it, there’s still a hole in their life," Hada said. "But, as I tell clients, and especially the Sanchez family, is that ending the litigation helps with the grieving process.”
USW concluded their announcement with the following:
"In addition, USW will advocate and work within our athletic association to expand awareness of transportation and logistics safety best practices. USW will aspire to be a leader in student-athlete safety through example and advocacy." - University of the Southwest
Hada noted that those advocacy efforts by the university were a key component for the Sanchez family in this resolution to prevent this from happening to anyone else.
In the announcement from the school, USW added that it does not want any family to experience the grief and loss that these families have suffered.
For the full announcement from the University of the Southwest on this litigation resolution, click here.