One athlete is dead and several others are injured after a group of parents and teen volleyball players were involved in a crash while traveling to a tournament in Texas last week.
At the time of the crash on Thursday, three Venom Volleyball Club families were making the drive from Goodyear, Arizona, to Austin for the Lone Star National Qualifier, the volleyball team shared in astatementon Friday evening.
“With overwhelming pain in our hearts one of our athletes has sadly passed away,” Venom Volleyball Club wrote. “Two other athletes are in critical condition but stable and one former alumni traveling with them was severely injured but in stable condition.”
Venom Volleyball Team.Gofundme
Additionally, one of the parents involved in the crash was “hospitalized and in stable condition,” while the other two parents, who sustained minor injuries, had been discharged.
A moment of silence was held at the event for the late athlete as well “as the players and mothers that were severely injured,” according to apostfrom the Arizona Storm Elite Volleyball Club. Gonzalez has also organized aGoFundMecampaign to help support the families.
Venom Volleyball Club.Venom Volleyball Club Facebook
Although authorities have not identified the victims of the crash, saying only that the girl who died was 17 years old, a separateGoFundMewas created on behalf of her family, identifying her as the daughter of a beloved local nurse.
“Sadly, last week his wife and daughter and their club volleyball team were involved in a tragic car accident in Texas due to severe weather conditions,” organizers wrote. “With overwhelming pain in our hearts, his daughter passed away and his wife is in critical condition.”
As of Monday morning, the GoFundMe campaign has raised over $32,000.
The volleyball club’s coach and founder said he learned about the crash after receiving a call from another coach.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free weekly newsletterto get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.
“We would have forfeited if we thought any of our parents would have been in danger on the highways,” he added. “The conditions, from my understanding, the conditions were good; they just met up with some black ice that they just didn’t see.”
“Your outpouring of support during a very difficult time for our club families has been tremendous,” Gonzalez wrote in an update shared on Monday morning.
Although “related expenses and medical bills are mounting fast for all 3 families,” Gonzalez added that “we remain hopeful.”
source: people.com
