Latest news with #BoilermakerSpecial
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Yahoo
Police: Boilermaker Special's left front tire blew, causing fatal crash
LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The force of the impact between Purdue's Boilermaker Special with a southbound car split the car in two pieces from front to back, killing the driver, according to the sheriff's department investigation. The woman killed in Thursday afternoon's crash, who died at the scene, was in her mid-20s, Tippecanoe County Coroner Carrie Costello said Friday morning. Costello will not release the woman's name and city of residence until a positive identity is confirmed and her family members have been notified, Costello said. A forensic autopsy is scheduled for Monday. Madison Cook, 20, of Noblesville, was the driver of the Boilermaker Special. Taylor Melton, 22, of Rockport, was a passenger. Cook is a junior in the Polytechnic Institute, and Melton is a senior in the College of Agriculture, Purdue spokesman Trevor Peters said. They were treated at a Lafayette hospital and later released, Purdue University spokesman Trevor Peters said. The Boilermaker Special is a truck modified to look like a 19th-century steam locomotive and is the official mascot of Purdue University. It is legal to drive on public roads and highways. Tippecanoe County sheriff's Chief Deputy Terry Ruley said the Boilermaker Special's left front tire malfunctioned, sending it off the left side of the highway, into the median and into the path of the southbound car. This confirms what Lyndsay Lehr, a Stockwell resident, said Thursday afternoon. She said she was driving on U.S. 52 and witnessed the accident in her rearview mirror. She was one of many people who called 911. Lehr said she watched the Boilermaker Special blow a tire before it crossed over the median, plowing directly into the car behind her. The Indiana State Police Commercial Motor Division is assisting the sheriff's department in looking for other possible mechanical problems in the Boilermaker Special that might have contributed to the crash, Ruley said. The accident remains under investigation. Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@ Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Police: Boilermaker Special's tire blew, causing fatal crash
New York Post
26-04-2025
- New York Post
Purdue University's mascot train involved in highway crash that kills 1, injures 2
The Boilermaker Special, a vehicle made to look like a vintage train that serves as one of Purdue University's mascots, was involved in a fatal highway crash this week that killed one person and injured two others. The Boilermaker Special vehicle collided with another car on US 52 at Wyandotte Road in Sheffield Township, killing the driver on impact. The driver has been identified as 20-year-old Madison Cook. Purdue confirmed the tragic multi-vehicle accident in an online statement. The crash occurred in Indiana's Tippecanoe County, and 'the two students who were on the Special' who sustained injuries 'have been treated and released from the hospital.' 3 The driver of the vehicle was killed. Youtube/ WTHR Purdue confirmed the tragic multi-vehicle accident in an online statement. It ends: 'Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the incident.' 3 One person is dead and two others are injured after Purdue University's mascot train was involved in a deadly crash on an Indiana highway. Youtube/ WTHR A 20-year-old and a 22-year-old suffered from non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators told WTHR the accident may have been caused by a tire malfunction that forced the vehicle to cross the highway's median. 3 The accident happened Wednesday. Youtube/ WTHR The Boilermaker smashed into a passenger vehicle headed in the opposite direction. The Boilermaker Special resembles a Victorian-era steam locomotive, and travels to all of the university's football team's away games. The vehicle can reach speeds up to 75 mph.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Yahoo
Purdue's Boilermaker Special mascot train involved in fatal vehicle crash in Indiana
Purdue University's train mascot, the Boilermaker Special, was involved in a fatal crash on Thursday afternoon in Tippecanoe County, Indiana. The vehicle crossed the median traveling north on U.S. 52 after a "possible tire malfunction," hitting a southbound car, the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. The one individual in the southbound car was pronounced dead at the scene, deputies said. The coroner's office will release the victim's identity once their family is notified. Madison Cook, a 20-year-old Purdue student from Noblesville, was driving the Boilermaker Special at the time of the crash with 22-year-old Taylor Melton from Rockport, deputies said. Both students were treated at the hospital and released on Thursday, the university said in a statement. "As part of the investigation, toxicology exams will be conducted for both drivers," authorities said. The sheriff's office said it is looking into any additional mechanical issues that may be related to the crash, with the Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Division aiding in the investigation. The Boilermaker Special VII has served as the official mascot of Purdue since 2011, cared for by the the Purdue Reamer Club. Claimed to be the world's fastest, heaviest and loudest mascot, the Boilermaker Special travels across the country to attend all of Purdue's away football games. This article was originally published on
NBC News
26-04-2025
- NBC News
Purdue's Boilermaker Special mascot train involved in fatal vehicle crash in Indiana
Purdue University's train mascot, The Boilermaker Special, was involved in a fatal crash on Thursday afternoon in Tippecanoe County, Indiana. The vehicle crossed the median traveling north on U.S. 52 after a "possible tire malfunction," hitting a southbound car, the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. The one individual in the southbound car was pronounced dead at the scene, deputies said. The coroner's office will release the victim's identity once their family is notified. Madison Cook, a 20-year-old Purdue student from Noblesville was driving the Boilermaker Special at the time of the crash, with 22-year-old Taylor Melton from Rockport, deputies said. Both students were treated at the hospital and released on Thursday, the university said in a statement. "As part of the investigation, toxicology exams will be conducted for both drivers," authorities said. The Sheriff's Office said they are looking into any additional mechanical issues that may be related to the crash, with the Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Division aiding in the investigation. The Boilermaker Special VII has served as the official mascot of Purdue since 2011, cared for by the the Purdue Reamer Club. Claimed to be the world's fastest, heaviest and loudest mascot, the Boilermaker Special travels across the country to attend all of Purdue's away football games.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Yahoo
1 Dead, 2 Others Injured After Purdue University's Mascot Train Involved in Fatal Crash
One person is dead and two others are injured after Purdue University's mascot train was involved in a deadly crash on an Indiana highway. On Thursday, April 24, the Boilermaker Special vehicle was traveling on U.S. 52 at Wyandotte Road in southeastern Tippecanoe County when it collided with a car, ABC News reported. The driver of the vehicle was killed, while two passengers — a 20-year-old and a 22-year-old — were transported to a local hospital after suffering non-life-threatening injuries, according to the outlet. "We can confirm our Boilermaker Special was involved in a serious multi-vehicle accident in Tippecanoe County on April 24," Purdue University said in a statement. "Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the incident," the school continued, adding that "the two students who were on the Special have been treated and released from the hospital." Related: College Football Player Mason Alexander Dies at 18 in Car Crash: 'Our Entire Program Is Shocked and Deeply Saddened' The Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office (TCSO) believes the accident was caused by a "tire malfunction" that caused the vehicle to cross the median and collide with a passenger vehicle traveling in the opposite direction, per ABC News and local outlet WTHR. "The Sheriff's Office is continuing with our investigation into any additional mechanical issues that may be related to the crash," the TCSO said in a statement shared with ABC News. The organization is being assisted by the Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Division amid the investigation. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Related: 2 Teens Among 4 Killed After Car Hits Charter Bus in Triple Car Crash on Washington Highway The Boilermaker Special resembles a Victorian-era steam locomotive. It travels to away games for Purdue University's football team. The university states that the vehicle, which serves as Purdue's official mascot, can drive up to 75 mph. The TCSO did not respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Friday, April 25. Read the original article on People
