Crash Kills Assistant Football Coach

MARYVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ An assistant football coach at Maryville College was killed on campus when his pickup truck crashed into a tree on a road leading to the school's stadium. <br/><br/>Shawn Jeremiah

Tuesday, November 20th 2007, 12:52 pm

By: News On 6

MARYVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ An assistant football coach at Maryville College was killed on campus when his pickup truck crashed into a tree on a road leading to the school's stadium.

Shawn Jeremiah Cody Bowers died in the Monday night accident, Police Chief Tony Crisp said. Two passengers were injured, one critically.

Bowers, a 25-year-old assistant under coach Tony Ierruli, was pronounced dead at the scene. Bowers was driving a four-door pickup when it struck a tree head-on, then spun into another tree, hitting it on the driver's door, Crisp said.

``We do believe speed was a factor. Our investigation is ongoing,'' he said.

Jack Lefler, 25, was in the front seat and thrown from the truck, sustaining life-threatening injuries. Matthew Lambert, 24, was in the back seat and was also injured. Both were taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.

Ierruli, athletic director Randy Lambert and Dean of Students Vandy Kemp met Monday night with about 50 students who had gathered near the crash site.