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3 Southern University marching band members die after 18-wheeler hits them while changing tire in Louisiana

While they were working to replace the tire, a 1997 Freightliner drifted onto the shoulder and slammed into the left side of the Jeep

NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA: Three marching band members from a Louisiana college were killed earlier on December 7 when they were struck by a tractor-trailer. According to the Louisiana State Police, the victims — Tyran Williams, 19, Broderick Moore, 19, and Dylan Young, 21 — were struck Tuesday night by a 1997 18-wheeler, Freightliner that drifted onto the northbound shoulder on I-49 north of Natchitoches, struck the left side of the Jeep and impacted all three students.  

The young men, who were from the Dallas area, were reportedly changing a tire on their 1999 Jeep Laredo when the accident occurred, according to LSP. They died at the scene from their wounds. Director of Bands Kedric Taylor and President-Chancellor Dennis J Shields confirmed that all three victims who perished in the collision on Tuesday were marching members of Southern University's band called Human Jukebox. 

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Broderick Moore was a freshman music major from Cedar Hill, Texas; Dylan Young, a sophomore mechanical engineering major from Cedar Hill; and Tyran Williams, a freshman music major from Irving, Texas, acknowledged Dennis in a statement and offered condolences to the families. "It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of the tragic deaths of three of our students who reportedly succumbed to injuries in a vehicular accident on Tuesday evening in Natchitoches Parish. Our thoughts are with the families, friends, classmates and other loved ones," he said while also extending his condolences to the marching band Human Jukebox. 

Governor John Bel Edwards also joined the mourning, in a tweet he wrote, "They (students) were dedicated to their education, incredibly talented and provided joy to everyone who had the opportunity to hear them play as part of one of the greatest college bands in the nation." The 62-year-old truck driver Clyde Gay of Coushatta was wearing a seatbelt and was unharmed, according to the investigators. As the collision investigation is going on, routine toxicological tests were still awaiting, according to state police, KHOU11 reported.

Two of the students were tuba players, the other was a percussionist, Southern University's Director of Bands Kedric Taylor said, "I am at a loss for words and utterly devastated to hear the news," band director said Wednesday in a statement shared on Facebook. "The dedication and work ethic they displayed to the Human Jukebox was inspiring...some of the most promising, humble, and talented student musicians," he has ever instructed.