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13-Year-Old was driving in collision that killed 9

APTOPIX Texas Crash Golf Teams
Golf balls adorn a makeshift memorial at the Rockwind Community Links, Wednesday, March 16, 2022, in Hobbs, New Mexico. The memorial was for student golfers and the coach of University of the Southwest killed in a crash in Texas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Authorities are reporting that a 13-year-old boy was behind the wheel of a pickup truck that collided with a van, killing 9 people.

The incident occurred on March 15th on a two lane road near Andrew, Texas.

According to National Transportation Safety Board Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg, the pickup truck’s left front tire blew out which may have caused it to collide head on with the van.

Lansberg also report that though they could not tell how each driver was driving, “this was clearly a high-speed collision.”

Public Safety Sgt. Steven Blanco told People magazine that once the vehicle’s collided, “both vehicles caught fire and burned.”

Six student athletes from the New Mexico university were killed in the crash along with their coach Tyler James. Two others where taken to an area hospital in critical condition. Authorities reported that they were traveling for a golf tournament.

Both the 13-year-old driver who has been identified by a family friend as Ricky Siemens and his father 38-year-old were also killed.

The family friend also reported that the teen accidently burned down his family’s home several month prior to the fatal accident while attempting to make food.

“Just before Christmas, their house burned down … The 13-year-old made some eggs and forgot about it,” the family friend, Aganetha, told DailyMail.com.

One dog was killed in the fire.