6 Students in Texas Killed on Highway

Six college students getting out of their cars or walking along a highway on their way to a fraternity party were struck and killed early Sunday by a driver who had fallen asleep, police said.

The accident happened just after midnight about two miles west of the Texas A&M; University main campus, Police Maj. Mike Patterson said.

The victims--four students from Baylor University, one from Texas A&M; and one from Southwest Texas State--were among those going to a party at the Tau Kappa Epsilon house along a four-lane highway. Some had just parked on the road shoulder when the driver of a pickup truck sideswiped two parked cars and struck a third.

Witnesses said parties at the fraternity often draw large crowds of people who must park on the shoulder of the highway, which has a 65-mph speed limit.

The man driving the pickup, a Texas A&M; student, had just taken his girlfriend home and was returning to campus when he fell asleep and veered off the road, Patterson said.

“We could hear screaming and stuff, but at first we didn’t have any idea he was running over people,” said Daniel Lara, a 22-year-old student who lives next door to the fraternity. “We walked out and saw bodies all over the place.”

“Their shoes were in perfect place from where they were walking,” said Arissa Hill, a Blinn College freshman who was going to the party.

The driver, 18-year-old Brandon Kallmeyer, was not injured and apparently had not been drinking, police said.

Patterson said investigators will present evidence to Brazos County prosecutors without recommending charges.

The victims were identified as Emily Hollister, 18; Tricia Calp, 18; Dolan Wostal, 22; and Erika Lanham, 18, all Baylor students; William Flores, 22, of Southwest Texas; and Ted Bruton, 21, of Texas A&M.;

Two other people were treated at a hospital and released Sunday. One had a broken pelvis, the other suffered minor injuries.

Baylor President Robert B. Sloan said Sunday that the university was grieving.

“Each and every student is precious to us, and to lose four at one time is an unspeakable tragedy,” he said.