Two University of Idaho freshmen were killed in a rollover in Troy early Saturday morning.
Wyatt Smith, 17, and Benson Sternberg, 18, were killed around 3:45 a.m. after Smith lost control of the truck he was driving and hit the northbound embankment and rolled once, said Jeff Talbott, Idaho State Police trooper.
Four other UI students were involved in the crash, Talbott said, and were all treated for minor injuries at Gritman Medical Center and released mid-Saturday morning.
Stephani Brede, 18; Tiffany Arreola, 19; Zachary Blank, 19; and Clinton Johnson, 19, were all riding in the truck with Smith and Sternberg at the time of the incident. Talbott said Smith and Sternberg were dead upon arrival.
According to the accident report from ISP and Talbott, none of the passengers or driver wore seatbelts at the time of the incident.
Talbott said the investigation is still ongoing, but alcohol is believed to be a factor at this time. Results from Smith’s blood work will not be available for at least a month, Talbott said.
Dean of Students Bruce Pitman said he was informed of the incident around 6:15 a.m. Saturday, and immediately mobilized a support services team consisting of members from Residence Life, the Counseling and Testing Center and Dean of Students Office who met with students involved in the incident at Gritman. After the four crash survivors were released, the team moved to Wallace Residence Center where Smith and Sternberg were living.
“We focused on setting up places where students could gather to talk and where they could get grief counseling,” Pitman said.
Pitman said they encouraged students to talk, ask questions and gave them information on what to expect during the grieving process and where they could find help if they needed it.
“We know we’re not done yet,” Pitman said. “We know that the pain that comes from grief comes over a long period of time.”
There is a funeral service planned for Smith Wednesday in his hometown of St. Anthony at 11 a.m. at the Latter Day Saints church, Pitman said.
There is a service planned for Sternberg in New Plymouth Saturday, but a time and place have not been announced yet, Pitman said.
“We ask that students make good choices and conservative decisions as they travel during the upcoming holidays,” Pitman said. “Please wear seatbelts.”