Joplin, MO – Two Missouri Southern football players have died as the result of a car accident early Friday morning.
The students who died were Michael McCrimmons, a freshman defensive back, and Diondre Johnson, a redshirt freshman tight end.
Two other student-athletes -- football player Jeremy Johnson and golfer Patrick Holt -- were seriously injured.
According to the school's athletics website, Missouri Highway Patrol reported the accident occurred on I-44 when the SUV carrying the four student-athletes overturned. A passenger was ejected and the vehicle came to rest before being hit by a semi-trailer truck, shutting down the eastbound lanes of the highway.
One of the passengers of the SUV was hit by a car after exiting the overturned vehicle.
Holt was flown to St. John's Hospital in Springfield, while Johnson was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
A football team meeting was held at noon Friday, while the university has planned a candlelight vigil at 6:30 p.m. (ct) Friday at the Flag of Freedom Plaza on the campus oval.
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