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Henrich Siemens was the adult passenger in the truck that slammed into a van in Texas, killing six golfers and a coach from a New Mexico university.
Some sites gave his name as Heinrich Siemens. Altogether, nine people died in the crash, including Siemens, 38, of Seminole, Texas, and a 13-year-old boy. Daily Mail identified the teen as Ricky Siemens.
Daily Mail reports that Siemens and the boy were father-and-son. Siemens was part of the Mennonite community and was a father of five.
According to officials with the National Transportation Safety Board, speaking in a news conference, the 13-year-old boy was driving the truck.
There is a fundraiser to help the victims and their families.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. The 13-Year-Old Boy ‘Loved Dirt Bikes, Anything Mechanical’
Tributes flowed for the college students and their coach. However, family members also expressed loss over Siemens and his son.
Tina Riemer wrote on Facebook that the “sweet 13 year old boy who lost his life in this accident was my nephew. He was great friends with my son. He loved dirt bikes, working anything mechanical. His knowledge for a 13 year old was impressive when it came to working on diesel trucks and cars. He was super smart in that area. He was hard working and a good big brother. A wonderful friend and cousin to my son.”
Agatha Siemens posted a photo collage and other tributes on Facebook. Online records show she was married to Siemens, who is also called Henry Siemens. She changed her relationship status to widowed.
“My condolences to you & your family 🙏🙏. Prayers Mama ❣️” a woman wrote on her comment thread.
According to his LinkedIn page, Henry Siemens worked in construction.
Confusing matters, there is another Henrich Siemens, who is 31, with ties to Seminole, who is married to a woman named Aganetha; Daily Mail reports that they are family friends and not related.
Heavy has written Texas authorities to determine whether the name of the Siemens who died is spelled Henrich or Heinrich; authorities initially gave it out as Henrich. Henry Siemens also wrote on Facebook that he is a farmer.
2. The Governor’s Office Says Nine People Died in the March 2022 Wreck
Governor Greg Abbott issued a statement on the fatal vehicle crash near Andrews in West Texas.
The statement says that the crash “killed nine people and critically injured two others…Among the victims were members and a coach of the University of the Southwest men’s and women’s golf teams who were visiting Texas from New Mexico for a tournament.”
The Texas Department of Public Safety released these names of the victims who died, according to NBC News:
University of the Southwest students:
19-year-old Mauricio Sanchez of Mexico.
19-year-old Travis Garcia of Pleasanton.
22-year-old Jackson Zinn of Westminster, Colo.
21-year-old Karissa Raines of Fort Stockton.
18-year-old Laci Stone of Nocona.
18-year-old Tiago Sousa of Portugal.
Their coach, 26-year-old Tyler James.
Two people survived the crash but are in critical condition, according to NBC News. They are: Dayton Price, 19, of Mississauga Ontario, Canada and Hayden Underhill, 20, of Amherstview, Ontario, Canada. Heavy has reached out to the Texas Department of Public Safety for additional details.
Stone’s mother, Chelsi, posted a tribute on Facebook. It read,
I’m about to post something that no parent should ever have to post. I wouldn’t wish this pain on my worst enemy. Last night Laci’s golf team was involved in a crash leaving a golf tournament. Our sweet Laci didn’t make it. We are still waiting for a lot of details but as of right now that’s all I have. That our Laci is gone! She has been an absolute ray of sunshine during this short time on earth. Haydan, Johnathan, Kaygan and I are absolutely devastated. We will never be the same after this and we just don’t understand how this happened to our amazing, beautiful, smart, joyful girl. But I do know that she had a relationship with God that everyone could see and I will always hold that near to my heart.
Right before we took Laci back to college she begged me to get a matching tattoo with her. I almost chickened out because I’m a baby but I went through with it. She of course is so strong that she didn’t even move. I’m so forever grateful that God gave me the courage to go through with it and always have this memory with her. We will appreciate every prayer we can get and we love you all. If you know laci at all you know she is probably having the biggest karaoke party she can and singing Whitney at the top of her lungs. 💔
6 other USW golfers also lost their lives during this awful accident and their coach. I know at least one of Lacis best friends lost his life next to her. Please pray for these families as well.
3. Siemens’ House Recently Burned Down
GoFundMeGoFundMe for Henry Siemens
In 2021, a GoFundMe page was established to help the Siemens family in an unrelated tragedy. That page calls Siemens Henry Siemens and reads,
Hi, this fundraiser is for the Henry Siemens family. Their home burned down with all of their personal belongings inside. Their family is OK, Thank God! They lost one dog in the fire. It was under one of the children’s bed. The money will be used to help them get resituated in different housing and pay for the unexpected expenses that come with moving. The funds will also be used to buy cloths, and toiletries, and school supplies, etc. Some of the children ran out of the house without shoes. It’s hard restart for this family of 6. Thanks for helping! God bless you!
Aganetha Siemens told Daily Mail, “I couldn’t imagine going through all that and then to have this happen. It’s just so sad.”
Agatha Siemens, the wife of the deceased man, referenced the fire on her Facebook page. In December 2021, she wrote, “Does anyone of someone who can get pics off a laptop without turning it on? My laptop was in the house during the fire 🔥 but didn’t get burnt. Just water damaged. So I’m afraid to turn it on or charge it but would like to transfer all the pics I have on it to flash drives so I don’t lose them. Anyone know of someone? 🙏🏻”
4. The Boy Was Driving the Truck When a Spare Tire Failed, Officials Say
In a news conference, NTSB Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg, said that, on March 15, 2022, at 8:17 p.m., a 2007 Dodge 2500 three to four-ton truck crossed into the southbound lane and collided with the 11 passenger transit bus that was towing an eight-foot trailer.
The bus was carrying the coach and eight team members of the University of Southwest College men’s and women’s golf teams, Landsberg said.
“Tragically the coach and six of the team members were killed,” he said, adding that two team members were in critical, confirming that the driver and passenger of the truck were also killed (Siemens and the 13-year-old boy, who has not been named).
“A 13-year-old child was behind the wheel of the pickup truck,” confirmed Landsberg, who said it’s believed that the left front tire was a “spare tire” that failed and resulted in the vehicle “pulling hard to the left and crossing into the opposing lane.”
He said the final report and probable cause determination won’t be available for 12-18 months.
According to Landsberg, it was a high-speed, head-on crash between “two heavy vehicles. There is no question about the force of impact.” He added that “quite a number” of people in the bus were not wearing seatbelts, and one was ejected.
It’s not yet clear why the spare tire failed. Landsberg said the tires burned in the crash. He said that “marks on the road” helped investigators determine that it failed.
He said the spare was not a “donut tire; it was just a different tire.”
5. ‘We Grieve With the Loved Ones,’ the Governor Said in a Statement
Statement on fatal vehicle crash near Andrews in West Texas:
Abbott offered his full support to the university.
“We grieve with the loved ones of the individuals whose lives were horrifically taken too soon in this fatal vehicle crash near Andrews last night,” Abbott said in the statement.
“The Texas Department of Public Safety is working closely with local officials to investigate this accident, and we offer our full support to the University of the Southwest and the state of New Mexico. I ask Texans to join Cecilia and me in praying for the families of those whose lives were lost and for the recovery of two critically injured students.”
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