Three former highschool athletes have died after being in a high-speed rollover automotive crash in Colorado on Saturday, July 25.
The victims were identified as Money 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 each competing in summer college leagues on 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 on the scene. The motive force was critically injured within the crash, in response to the Denver Gazette, while one other passenger suffered minor injuries. The vehicle was speeding on the time of the crash but authorities haven’t yet determined its cause.
“It’s with profound sadness and broken hearts that we share the news of a tragic one-vehicle accident involving 4 recent members of the Eaton High School Class of 2025 and one other individual,” the varsity announced in an announcement via Facebook on Sunday, July 26. “Three recent graduates tragically lost their lives within 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 everybody affected by this heartbreaking tragedy.”
The college district also announced that it will make crisis counseling services available to all students, staff and community members who would love their support.
The Fort Collins Foxes, Rinker’s summer team, remembered him in an Instagram tribute on Monday, July 27.
“He brought an ideal humorousness and an energy that made the people around him smile,” the post read. “Our thoughts are with Money’s family and with the entire families impacted by this tragedy. We’re keeping everyone close in our hearts and standing together as a Foxes family.”
Nider’s team, the Colorado Lumberjax, shared the same tribute.
“Cooper brought light, grit, and unwavering positivity to our program each day,” their Instagram post read. “His impact on his teammates, our coaches, and staff goes far beyond the sport of baseball. We hold Cooper’s parents, family, and family members in our thoughts and prayers during this unimaginable time.”
Crew Haythorn, a current Eaton student who’s 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 whole lot of people, through a whole lot of grades. A whole lot of people really liked them.”