Ribbons are shown on the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house on the University of Mississippi campus in Oxford, Miss., Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. Two students, one a pledge to the fraternity, were killed in a wreck Saturday morning. (DM Photo/Alex Edwards)
Two Ole Miss students were killed and two more were hospitalized after being involved in a one-car accident around 5 a.m. Saturday on Highway 7.
Lafayette County Deputy Coroner Glenn Coleman said Kevin J. Eagan, 18, of St. Charles, Mo., and Christopher J. Grimaud, 20, of St. Louis died after their Ford Mustang left the highway near University Avenue, going onto the median and rolling over at least once. The Oxford Police Department is investigating the incident.
Arthur Lueking of Chesterfield, Mo., the driver of the vehicle, is in good condition at the Regional Medical Center in Memphis. Passenger James Connors, also from the St. Louis area, has been released from Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi in Oxford. According to The Clarion-Ledger, Lueking and Connors were ejected from the vehicle.
“We are deeply saddened at the loss of our students and a loss to the Ole Miss family,” Ole Miss Dean of Students Sparky Reardon said Sunday. “We are doing all we can to reach out and help friends, family and the fraternities affected. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected.”
Connors gave thanks for the support from friends and others on his Facebook page yesterday after being medically cleared to leave the hospital.
“Thank you y’all for everything. I honestly did know (sic) I had this many friends. First off I would like to thank God for the survival of Arthur Lueking. They say I am going to be released today so in celebration of the good news I would like everyone to pray for gods (sic) new angels and their families, Kevin Eagan and Chris Grimaud.”
Grimaud and Lueking were both involved in Greek organizations on campus. Eagan was involved with Alpha Tau Omega, and Grimaud was an active member of the Phi Psi fraternity at Ole Miss, which has come together since the accident in support of the Grimaud family.
“It’s been a difficult last few days for all of us,” said Beau Wengert, a business marketing major from Richmond, Va., who was a close friend and fraternity brother with Grimaud. “This is truly a sad loss, and he will be dearly missed. The fraternity and alumni have all come together to be there for the Grimaud family during this difficult time.”
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has reported that funeral arrangements for Grimaud will be held at the Kutis Funeral Home in St. Louis, while arrangements for Eagan will be handled by Stygar Mid Rivers Funeral Home in St. Charles.
— Pete Porter
