13-year-old boy was driving pickup in crash that killed players, coach of Texas college golf team

A 13-year-old boy was behind the wheel of the pickup truck involved in a fatal collision in Texas that killed nine and injured two, including members of a college golf team, federal crash investigators said Thursday.

The crash occurred Tuesday night when the pickup crossed the center line of a two-lane road in West Texas and hit the University of the Southwest van head on.

The National Transportation and Safety Board has not identified the driver, but agency official Bruce Landsberg said the pickup's front left tire was a spare and had blown out prior to the accident.

The pickup's lone passenger, who died in the crash, is being identified as 38-year-old Henrich Siemans, 38, according to USA Today.

The minimum age in Texas to begin driving in courses is 14, and one must be 15 to acquire a provisional license.

The van was carrying members of the golf team and their coach, who were returning from a tournament at Midland College.

Six members of the team and coach died in the crash, while two more sustained critical injuries.

Those killed in the crash have been identified as head coach Tyler James, 26, and students Mauricio Sanchez, 19; Travis Garcia, 19; Jackson Zinn, 22; Karisa Raines, 21; Laci Stone, 18; and Tiago Sousa, 18.

James was in his first season as the school's head coach.

The two injured students — Dayton Price, 19; and Hayden Underhill, 20 — remain hospitalized but are recovering, said university provost Ryan Tipton.

"There is no indication for how long it's going to take, but they are both stable and recovering and every day making more and more progress," he also said.