Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office
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Multiple members of a girls' hockey team were injured when their vehicle was struck while traveling to Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, Jan. 29
The driver of their sprinter van, believed to be one of the girls' fathers, died at the scene on Interstate 70
"We ask that you keep our hockey families in your prayers and that you give them time to sort through the details of this tragic event," said the Santa Clarita Flyers Hockey Club
Five children and three adults from a Santa Clarita girls' hockey team have been left injured after a snowplow struck their van in Colorado.
At around 8:53 a.m. local time on Thursday, Jan. 29, Colorado State Patrol responded to a fatal crash on eastbound I-70 at milepost 218, said the Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office in anews release.
The crash involved a Colorado Department of Transportation snowplow, a hockey team in a sprinter van, as well as two other passenger vehicles.
"Initial reports are that eight people, including five juveniles and three adults, were transported by ground ambulance to a local area hospital," said the Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office. "The driver of the sprinter van was declared deceased on scene."
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Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office
The Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office said the Department of Transportation plow truck driver lost control while driving westbound on I-70.
"The plow truck traveled through the median, breaking through the cable rail and into the eastbound lanes," the authorities said. "The plow collided with a Toyota Tacoma that was traveling eastbound in the eastbound lanes."
"After impact, the Toyota went through the median and struck a BMW traveling westbound in the westbound lanes," they continued. "The plow continued eastbound and struck the sprinter van that was traveling eastbound in the eastbound lanes. After the impact, the sprinter van ended up down an embankment. The CDOT plow came to rest on the shoulder."
One child was airlifted to the hospital in critical condition, four children and three adults were also hospitalized via ambulance, theLos Angeles TimesandABC 7reported, citing Colorado State Patrol.
Prescott Littlefield, the president of the Santa Clarita Flyers Hockey Club said the injured are expected to recover.
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"It's devastating. It hits home really hard for everybody," Littlefield told ABC 7.
There were reportedly no injuries sustained from occupants in the Toyota and BMW vehicles, the Sheriff's Office said in their news release.
Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office
While the identity of the driver hasn't been made public, he was reportedly the father of one of the players, according to theLos Angeles Times.
The Santa Clarita Flyers Hockey Club shared a statement onInstagram, saying that, "Our 12AA Lady Flyers were on their way to Denver, Colorado, to participate in a WGHL weekend. We ask that you keep our hockey families in your prayers and that you give them time to sort through the details of this tragic event."
They added onFacebook, "We are devastated for the loss that our hockey family has experienced today. Our Lady Flyers have felt the love tonight, and would love to thank every single one of you that has reached out asking how you can help.
"The club has helped our Lady Flyer families put together a donation site to help with all of the upcoming expenses that the families will be facing," the club continued, linking to aGivebutter fundraiser. "Our hockey community is amazing and we thank you ahead of time for being willing to give what you can. We know that every little bit helps at this moment."
Littlefield told ABC 7 that the girls who are in good condition will go ahead with their tournament.
"The girls voted and those that can still play are going to go play tomorrow morning," he said. "They're going to gather together in the parking lot, walk into that building as a solid group and go out there and do what they have been working hard to do this entire season."
TheColorado State Patroland the Sheriff's Office confirmed that the eastbound I-70 has since reopened, but the investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
PEOPLE has contacted the Colorado State Patrol, Colorado Department of Public Safety and the Colorado Department of Transportation for further comment.
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