Looks like the NTSB has reported on the Denver accident:
Just before the plane left the runway there was a gust of 52 mph that, hitting the plane's tail, caused it to "weathervane" — turn until its nose was pointed into the wind, investigators said.
The pilot had twice applied the plane's right rudder during the first 12 seconds of the takeoff roll to correct its direction back to the right. But when a gust caused the plane to swing violently to the left, he reached instead for the tiller — which turns the nose wheel and was of no use under the circumstances — instead of reapplying the rudder to turn the plane back to the right, investigators said.
Feds: Captain Had 4 Seconds to Prevent Accident - ABC News