Purdue University’s official mascot, the Purdue Boilermaker Special, was involved in a fatal collision on the afternoon of April 24, the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office said.
According to the Lafayette Journal & Courier, part of the USA TODAY Network, Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Terry Ruley confirmed the fatal crash.
The Boilermaker Special was driving northbound on U.S. 52 when, for unknown reasons, it crossed the median and collided with a southbound car, Ruley said. The woman driving the car was killed, Ruley said.
Lyndsay Lehr said that while driving on the same road, she saw the accident in her rearview mirror and called 911. She also said she saw the Boilermaker Special blow a tire before it crossed over the median, plowing directly into the car behind her.
But officials were not able to confirm if a blown tire was at fault for the crash.
Two people were inside the Boilermaker Special at the time of the crash, but were not seriously injured and were taken to a local hospital to be checked as a precaution, Ruley said.
In a statement to the Journal & Courier, Purdue University spokesman Trevor Peters said, “We can confirm our Boilermaker Special was involved in a serious multi-vehicle accident in Tippecanoe County this afternoon. Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the incident.”
What is the Purdue Boilermaker Special?
According to the Purdue Reamer Club, the Boilermaker Special is the official mascot of Purdue University.
“The Purdue Reamer Club has been entrusted by the University with the honor and responsibility of being its caretaker,” the website says.
The website also says the Boilermaker Special is the “world’s largest, fastest, heaviest, and loudest collegiate mascot.”
The Purdue Reamer Club says the Boilermaker Special is always driven to every single one of Purdue’s away football games and the club says the vehicle can go as fast as 75 mph.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
