ChiefsPlanet - Evansville's Ottens dies in car crash in Iowa

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Evansville's Ottens dies in car crash in Iowa

EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- Evansville basketball player Eric Ottens died in a crash in Iowa when he ran a stop sign and his car was struck by another, police said.

The 23-year-old player died Friday night in the crash about 10 miles south of Dubuque, said Sgt. Kevin Niemer of the Dubuque County Sheriff's Office.

A passenger in Ottens' vehicle, Christopher Hebeler, was hospitalized with a broken leg and other injuries that were not life threatening. The driver of the other car sustained minor injuries.

Friday's crash occurred about 50 miles from Ottens' family's home in Morrison, Ill.

School officials and students held a prayer service Saturday night for Ottens, who graduated in 2005 with a degree in management and was working on his master's degree in health service administration during his final season of eligibility on the team.

"The UE community is heartbroken at the news of Eric's death," athletic director Bill McGillis said. 'He was an unbelievable young man. Eric was the epitome of the model student-athlete."

Ottens, a 6-foot-6 forward, was injured for much of the season, playing in 10 games before a knee injury forced him to the sidelines in early January. He underwent knee surgery in February.

He averaged 6.0 points and 2.2 rebounds for the Purple Aces this past season. Ottens was redshirted in his freshman year of 2001-02, then played each of the next four years.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2374324