University of Missouri Swim Club members injured in Illinois ammonia leak. What we know
Four members of the University of Missouri Swim Club on the way to compete at Ohio State University on Friday were injured when they inhaled toxic ammonia gas that had spilled from an overturned tanker truck in Illinois.
Five people died in the crash.
The students weren't involved in the crash but were in a car traveling to the meet, according to the MU Swim Club in a post.
Weston Hemmerling, Sarah Tague, Anja Dangelmaier and John Costello were hospitalized. They got out of the car and ran in different directions to escape the cloud of toxic gas. They fell into ditches on the side of the road until they were found by EMS workers.
The students were placed in intensive care with various levels of chemical burns to their eyes, skin, throats and lungs.
The swim club has created a GoFundMe online fundraiser to help their families with expenses. On Tuesday, almost $20,000 had been raised toward a $40,000 goal.
"University officials have been in touch with the families of those who were injured and we are providing them with any and all support and assistance that we have available," MU spokesman Christian Basi wrote in an email. "Our thoughts are with everyone who was impacted by this terrible accident."
The club is operated by Mizzou Rec. It is separate from the varsity swim teams.
Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter and can be reached at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on X at @rmckinney9.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: University of Missouri Swim Club members injured in ammonia gas leak
