MIGUEL COUNTY, COLORADO – A rollover accident claimed the lives of three former NMU students and injured another in the early morning hours of July 5. The accident occurred on State Highway 145 near the resort town of Telluride in Southwest Colorado.

The driver, Edward Bollman, 23, of Colorado Springs, Garrett Laforce, 26, of Littleton, Colo. and Carly Sansone , 21, of Smiths Creek, Michigan, died at the scene. The front seat passenger, Weston Gleiss, 24, of Eagle, Colo. managed to escape the vehicle and call authorities. He suffered minor injuries and was transported by EMS from the scene.

Laforce taught technology and industrial arts at Eagle Valley High School, and he was the girls’ volleyball coach. Gleiss teaches math also at Eagle Valley High School. The driver, Edward Bollman was a former student assistant coach of the NMU volleyball team.

The vehicle, a Chevy Cruze, ran off the right side of the road, hit a road sign and then rolled several times down a steep embankment, landing on its wheels. The driver and the two rear passengers were dead at the scene, according to the Colorado State Patrol.

According to the coroner’s office in Miguel County, all the passengers were wearing seat belts and none were ejected. Authorities suspect alcohol may have contributed to the crash.