Oklahoma State University has confirmed that Kurt Budke and Miranda Serna – the women’s basketball coach and assistant coach – died Thursday when their small plane went down in rural Arkansas. Victims of the survivor-less accident include a former state senator, Olin Branstetter, and his wife, Paula.
“This is our worst nightmare. The entire OSU family is very close, very close indeed. To lose anyone, especially these two individuals who are incredible life forces in our family, it is worse than beyond words,” OSU President Burns Hargis said during a frequently emotional press conference. “When something like this happens and, God forbid it happened again, we have to pull together as a family. We have to try to do that.
Thursday’s crash had tragic echoes of a similar incident in January 2001 when 10 members of the college’s men’s basketball program were killed in a plane crash upon returning from a game in Denver. That crash created a policy of planes that carry university personnel undergoing a thorough safety check before travel. It’s unknown is the policy was followed with Thursday’s crash. The National Transportation Safety board is investigating the crash, but officials cautioned that it could take several months to find the cause of the tragedy.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of Kurt Budke, Miranda Serna and the other victims. Kurt was an exemplary leader and a man of character who had a profound impact on his student-athletes. Miranda was an up-and-coming coach and an outstanding role model for our young ladies.,” Hargis said. “I don’t know a lot about what happened or about how it happened, but I know they are gone. They are here in our hearts.
The university is reportedly providing counselors to anyone on the campus or within the community who requires assistance. A memorial is planned for Monday, reported the Associated Press.
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