U Of M Professor Among 3 Americans Killed In Czech Republic Crash
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP/WCCO) — The University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine says one of its faculty members has died in a traffic accident in the Czech Republic.
Czech police say three Americans died in the collision with a truck Tuesday near Melnik, north of Prague. Police say six Americans were traveling in a rented SUV. A man and a woman died immediately. Another woman died in a hospital, while one woman was hospitalized in critical condition, and two men escaped unharmed.
A statement from the college Wednesday says Dr. Robert Morrison, his wife and several companions were in the accident north of Prague, and that they were traveling before attending a swine health management conference. Morrison's wife, Jeanie, is in critical condition in a European hospital, according to family friends.
The statement went on saying, "The University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine is mourning the death of Dr. Robert Morrison, a faculty member in its Department of Veterinary Population Medicine. Dr. Morrison was an international leader in the swine industry,' says Dr. Trevor Ames, dean of the college. 'This is a tragic loss for the strong team of students and faculty that Bob helped us build. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Morrison family.'"
The other victims were identified as Deb Spronk and Pam Scharn Wetzell.
A Facebook post from Crossroads Church, where Wetzell appeared to be a member, posted a message to their congregation announcing the accident.
ATLAS for Life, Spronk's employer, posted a message on its Facebook page saying it will be closed due to the loss.
A family friend of the couples involved in the crash, David Preisler who serves as Executive Director of Minnesota Pork Producers Association said the couples often traveled to conferences together.
"They are all tremendous people," Preisler said. "in our business of raising pigs, it takes really good people to do it and all of them really foster that."
A Facebook post from Crossroads Church, where Wetzell appeared to be a member, posted a message to their congregation announcing the accident.
ATLAS for Life, Spronk's employer, posted a message on its Facebook page saying it will be closed due to the loss.
A family friend of the couples involved in the crash, David Preisler who serves as Executive Director of Minnesota Pork Producers Association said the couples often traveled to conferences together.
"They are all tremendous people," Preisler said. "in our business of raising pigs, it takes really good people to do it and all of them really foster that."
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