Three former high school athletes have died after being in a high-speed rollover car crash in Colorado on Saturday, July 25.
The victims were identified as Cash Rinker, Jack Dirksen and Cooper Nider. Each was a 2025 graduate of Eaton High School in Eaton, Colorado. Rinker, 20, and Nider, 19, played on Eaton’s baseball team and were both competing in summer college leagues at the time of the accident. Dirksen, 20, was a defensive back for Eaton’s football team.
All three victims were thrown from the Chevy Tahoe and pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was critically injured in the crash, according to the Denver Gazette, while another passenger suffered minor injuries. The vehicle was speeding at the time of the crash but authorities have not yet determined its cause.
“It is with profound sadness and broken hearts that we share the news of a tragic one-vehicle accident involving four recent members of the Eaton High School Class of 2025 and another individual,” the school announced in a statement via Facebook on Sunday, July 26. “Three recent graduates tragically lost their lives in the accident. Two other young men were transported to the local hospital.”
The statement added, “Our thoughts, prayers, and heartfelt condolences are with the families, friends, classmates, and everyone affected by this heartbreaking tragedy.”
The school district also announced that it would make crisis counseling services available to all students, staff and community members who would like their support.
The Fort Collins Foxes, Rinker’s summer team, remembered him in an Instagram tribute on Monday, July 27.
“He brought a great sense of humor and an energy that made the people around him smile,” the post read. “Our thoughts are with Cash’s family and with all of the families impacted by this tragedy. We are keeping everyone close in our hearts and standing together as a Foxes family.”
Nider’s team, the Colorado Lumberjax, shared a similar tribute.
“Cooper brought light, grit, and unwavering positivity to our program every single day,” their Instagram post read. “His impact on his teammates, our coaches, and staff goes far beyond the game of baseball. We hold Cooper’s parents, family, and loved ones in our thoughts and prayers during this unimaginable time.”
Crew Haythorn, a current Eaton student who is on the basketball team, told CBS that the victims were “older brothers for me.”
“They were well loved around here,” he said. “They transcended through a lot of people, through a lot of grades. A lot of people really liked them.”
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