A close-knit group of five 17-year-old friends were killed after the car they were riding in veered off a roadway and plunged down a steep hillside late Saturday night. Emergency responders were alerted early Sunday morning to reports of a vehicle that had gone over the edge of a cliff in a quiet residential area.
When first responders arrived at the scene, they found the crashed vehicle resting on the side of the hillside. All five teenagers were pronounced dead at the scene. According to a preliminary investigation, the vehicle had been traveling down the road when it suddenly veered off course and went down the steep incline.
Officials say three of the teens, including the driver and front-seat passenger, were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. The other two were not buckled in and were ejected from the vehicle upon impact. Investigators are now looking into whether excessive speed played a role in the deadly crash.
The five victims have since been identified by the local coroner's office, and their community has been left devastated just as the new school year begins. Friends and neighbors have rallied together, setting up fundraisers to help the grieving families cover unexpected funeral expenses.
Authorities have offered grief counseling and support services to those in the community struggling to process the tragedy, as the investigation into exactly what caused the crash continues.