Daniela Lekhno, Roch Jauberty and Austin Brashears Dead in New Zealand

ST LOUIS (LALATE) – Daniela Lekhno, Roch Jauberty and Austin Brashears, three Boston University students, are dead after a New Zealand car crash. Margaret Theriault remains in critical condition, and four other students have been injured. The Boston University students were studying abroad in New Zealand when they were involved in a horrific minivan car crash this weekend.
New Zealand officials tell news that the crash happened in North Island vacation town of Taupo. For reasons still unknown, the driver of the students’ minivan swerved off the road, causing the vehicle to flip.
Officials tell news that several of the students were killed instantly at the scene. All the students with the exception of Theriault were BU students studying aboard in Auckland; Theriault was studying abroad in Sydney.
Investigators have no details why the vehicle swerved. No other car was involved in the crash. BU has yet to indicate its investigative efforts into the matter.
This is a horrible tragedy,” said Robert A. Brown, Boston University’s president in a news statement. “Our prayers go out to the students and their families. We will do all we can to provide comfort and assistance to those who have been injured, and to the families and friends of the victims. The university is mobilizing all of our resources to help our students and families deal with this tragedy.”
Colin Riley, a BU spokesman, tells the Boston Globe that no memorial service has yet been planned. Dean of students Kenneth Elmore issued a news statement today about the tragedy. “This is an unusual time on our campus. We have a lot of people who are traveling and some people who are celebrating. I’d like everyone to please take a moment to pay our respects to the families of those who have been killed. I hope everyone in our community knows that if anyone needs assistance, counseling is available in person and on the phone.”

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