Volleyball player involved in death of foreign exchange student

UTEP Police officers talk to eye-witnesses on the scene. Sitting in the center is sophomore volleyball player Madison Morris.

Jasmine Aguilera, Editor-in-chief • December 4, 2013

A UTEP Police report released Wednesday names sophomore volleyball player Madison Morris as the driver of the Nov. 15 accident that led to the death of Achim Schweighofer, a 23-year-old foreign exchange student.

University Communications officials said the case is closed and no charges have been brought against Morris as of yet, but charges may be brought by the El Paso District Attorney’s Office after they study the situation.

The report states no drugs or alcohol were involved in the incident.

UTEP Athletics was unwilling to comment, but University Communications said Morris should be able to continue playing on the volleyball team since no charges have been made.

Schweighofer was originally from Austria and was working on master’s in computer and electrical engineering at UTEP for one year. He was a member of the Miner Trotters and was released from life support on Nov. 18.

Guillermo Garza, UTEP graduate and former member of Miner Trotter, said in a message via Facebook on Nov. 19.

“It’s been hard for everyone, but there’s no one to blame as this was just a very unfortunate accident,” he said. “I hope the student that was “responsible” for this doesn’t get punished or her life ruined. I’m pretty sure he/she didn’t do it intentionally and no one would like more lives to be affected.”

More details to follow.

Jasmine Aguilera may be reached at [email protected].

About the Contributors

Jasmine Aguilera, Editor-in-chief

Jasmine is a senior multimedia journalism major with a minor in anthropology. She began practicing journalism as a high school student when she joined the Tejano Tribune, El Paso Community College’s student newspaper. During her senior year she became the first ever high school student to become editor-in-chief of the Tribune. She moved on to join The Prospector team in the fall of 2011. Jasmine has covered national politics, immigration, poverty, human trafficking, refugees and more in her time holding various editorial positions at The Prospector and as an intern reporter at the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire and Gannett News Service, both in Washington, D.C. She aspires to become an international reporter and tell stories that do not receive the attention they deserve. Until then, she spends her time following the news and guiding a very talented team in reporting for a student audience and the El Paso community. She also enjoys a good book, art, music and the occasional Netflix binge (House of Cards and Breaking Bad remain her favorite).

Michaela Roman, Editor-in-Chief

Michaela is a Senior Digital Media Production major at The University of Texas at El Paso. As the Editor-in-Chief, and former Photo Editor of The Prospector, she has learned to stay organized, manage a staff of writers and photographers, meet deadlines, cover events and network with others. She also has freelance experience and a personal photography business. Michaela aspires to work as an editor for a large media outlet and one day go to graduate school to teach photojournalism.