Shallowater Basketball Coach Airlifted to Hospital After Crash Near Eden

Editor's note: A previous version of this story stated a Shallowater baseball player died following an illness. His cause of death is unclear.

EDEN, TX — Shallowater boys basketball coach Jay Lusk was involved in a crash outside Eden on Friday and airlifted to Shannon Medical Center in San Angelo.

Lusk and his wife and son were all hospitalized, along with the driver of the other vehicle.

The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed it is investigating the crash and that all three occupants in Lusk’s vehicle were in serious condition.

Shallowater ISD released a statement that all three are expected to make a full recovery, along with the driver of the other vehicle.

Shallowater’s boys basketball team lost in the regional final later in the day Friday, 56-54, to Brownfield, as its assistant coach took over the team for the game. 

Lusk and his family were traveling back from the UIL Girls Basketball State Championships in San Antonio, where Shallowater lost 60-46 to Hitchcock.

The community of Shallowater, located just northwest of Lubbock, was already dealing with the tragedy of the death of a baseball player, Blade Paris, a day before Lusk's crash.

“We ask that everyone keep their family and our Mustang basketball team in your thoughts and prayers,” Shallowater ISD posted. “As you can imagine, this has been an emotional several hours for our players and coaching staff as they prepare for today’s Regional Championship game. We are incredibly proud of the resilience they continue to show.

"We would also like to ask you to keep the Paris family in your thoughts and prayers.

“We are thankful for the outpouring of support from our friends in other districts around the State of Texas, for the UIL, and for our neighbors throughout West Texas. To the community of Brownfield, thank you for your kindness today as we all recognize that some things matter far more than what happens on the court. 

"Out of respect for the families involved, we will not release any other information at this time."