RAMAH, N.M. – Just as Ramah, New Mexico was preparing to celebrate the communities founding on Pioneer Day, a fatal accident on July 22 rocked the community, killing two. To honor the past missionaries, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints held a Missionary March at the Pioneer Day celebration where people were asked to wear white shirts with a tie and slacks.
The accident occurred around 4:23 p.m. on July 22; the missionaries were in a Toyota Tacoma when they were involved in a collision with a Dodge Ram pickup truck on Indian Service Route 125.
Two of the missionaries, 20-year-old Elder Tyson Gene Haycock of Miles City, Montana, and 20-year-old Elder Michael Austin Davis of Corrine, Utah died as a result of the crash. The surviving missionary, 19-year-old Elder Britton Jeremie Berrett of Roberts, Idaho, survived and was released from the hospital.
Elder Haycock had only recently begun his mission to Ramah, having entered service in the area around fourweeks ago, according to the church. Elder Davis was two weeks away from completing his two-year mission
“Our deepest sympathies go to the families of these faithful missionaries, and we express our love and condolences to all who love them,” the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints said in a statement, “We pray that their families, friends and the missionaries they have served alongside will all feel God’s love and peace during this difficult time.”
The driver of the Dodge Ram was also hospitalized for their injuries, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
No other details are available at this time.
The FBI, Ramah Navajo Police Department and the New Mexico State Police are all investigating the crash.