Two Legacy coaches released after fatal bush crash

Legacy High School football coaches Wayne Voorhees and Kyle Rider have been released from the hospital after the bus they were riding in crashed on the evening of Sept. 11.

A bus carrying members of the Legacy football team hit a concrete pillar at Denver International airport, killing the bus driver and injuring 15 players as well as three coaches, according to the Denver Police Department. The third coach, Matt Kroupa, remains hospitalized.

The driver killed in the accident has been confirmed by the school district as Kari Chopper. Chopper worked for Adams 12 Five Star Schools for four years, and had passed her mandatory Department of Transportation physical on May 10. 

On Sept. 13, Legacy announced via the district’s webpage that the varsity football team would play its homecoming game againstPrairie View High School at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, at North Stadium, 12500 Delaware Dr., in Westminster.

“Through a collaborative discussion with district and school leadership, football staff, parents and students, the decision has been made that the Legacy High School varsity football team will play its homecoming game,” the post read. “Our district mental health team also advises that playing the game is an important and necessary step in the recovery of the community, students and staff.”

Coach Matt Craddock will serve as the interim head coach at this time. He is currently the defensive coordinator at Legacy High School and was a former head coach at Thornton High School.

Further updates on Sept. 13 included the fact that 28 total players were on the affected bus, 15 of whom were varsity players. All students on the affected bus are being monitored and evaluated by Legacy High School’s Athletic Trainer who is a member of the Sports Medicine Center at Children’s Hospital of Colorado, according to the information. Athletes will not play on Friday without being cleared by the Athletic Training staff.

Chopper had picked up 28 passengers before leaving DIA, then circling back to the airport terminal. The bus was one of three Adams 12 school buses that picked up Legacy students after they returned home from an out-of-state football game. Neither of the other two buses were involved in the accident.

Two Go Fund Me pages have been created for any who wish to contribute:

the Chopper Family: www.gofundme.com/Chopperfamilyfund

Legacy Coaches: www.gofundme.com/2be5u9hp

The crash happened about 4 p.m. Police said the bus veered off the right side of the terminal roadway and collided with a concrete pillar. 

The adults – three coaches and the bus driver – suffered the worst injuries in the crash as a result of being in the front of the bus, where the impact from the crash occurred. 

 “We extend our thoughts and prayers to everyone impacted by Sunday’s accident and offer our heartfelt condolences to the family of our bus driver who tragically passed away,” was written in a press release from the Adams 12 school district on Monday, Sept. 12. “The Denver Police Department continues to investigate the cause of the accident and will provide updates as available.”

Colorado Community Media reporter Clarke Reader contributed to this report.

 

 

 

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