BOURBONNAIS, IL – The Olivet Nazarene University community is in mourning Friday following the death of a young student athlete.
Olivet officials released a statement this afternoon following a car crash that took the life of Braydon Flagg, a talented basketball athlete and sophomore biology major, who tragically lost his life in a car accident on Thursday.
Flagg, only 20 years old, was involved in a fatal crash in La Porte County, Indiana.
According the La Porte County Sheriff’s Department, an initial investigation conducted by Deputy Micah Dokmanovic and assisting deputies report the incident occurred around 2:21 PM on CR 50 North, in the rural Wills Township area. At the time, Flagg was driving a black 2012 Toyota passenger vehicle heading westbound when, for unknown reasons, he veered left of center and crossed into the eastbound lane. The vehicle then left the south side of the roadway and collided with a tree before reentering CR 50 North and coming to a stop.
Emergency responders extricated Flagg from the vehicle and promptly transported him to a regional hospital. Tragically, despite medical efforts, Flagg was pronounced deceased in the emergency room.
Flagg was known for his exceptional skills on the basketball court and his leadership both on and off the court. During his time at Olivet Nazarene University, he played a vital role in the men’s basketball team’s success, contributing 207 points and 89 rebounds throughout his career. Flagg’s dedication helped the Tigers secure back-to-back conference regular season titles and a conference tournament championship in 2022.
In a statement, Olivet expressed their deep sorrow and extended condolences to the Flagg family. Coach Nick Birkey spoke about Flagg’s infectious personality and the impact he made on and off the court. The entire ONU men’s basketball family mourns the loss of their beloved teammate.
Flagg is survived by his mother Brandee, his father Jason, and his sister Jayden. The Olivet Nazarene University community joins together in mourning the loss of a talented athlete and cherished member of their community.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing, with no further information currently available. The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, and toxicology test results are pending.
