University volleyball player killed, 2 others injured in Kamloops, B.C., crash

A member of the Thompson Rivers University men's volleyball team is dead and two others are in critical condition following a car crash Wednesday in Kamloops, B.C.

RCMP say the students' small car was hit by an out-of-control vehicle and pushed into a busy intersection in Kamloops, causing a multi-car pileup.

The crash happened Wednesday near the TRU campus.

The school has confirmed the three men — all in their 20s — played for the university's WolfPack volleyball team. Their names have not been released.

Investigators say one of the men died in hospital and the other two are being treated for what are described as "life-altering'' injuries.

University president Brett Fairbairn, in a statement posted on the TRU website, called the incident an "inexplicable tragedy.''

"Our most sincere thoughts are with their families and loved ones, and on behalf of TRU, I offer our deepest condolences,'' Fairbairn said.

"We grieve with them, along with others, including their teammates, friends, classmates, and professors. This is a loss for the TRU community that will be felt for a long time.''

The university is offering counselling support to all students and staff.

Seven other people were hurt in the pileup — three needed hospital care and four were treated at the scene. RCMP in Kamloops are appealing for witnesses or dashcam video as they try to determine what happened.

All WolfPack games are postponed until further notice, the athletics department said in a Thursday post on Instagram.

"Now is the time when we must come together and support one another," read the statement.