Five 17-year-old friends died when their vehicle veered off Lookout Lane and plunged down a steep hillside in Grand Junction, Colorado, authorities reported Sunday. The Mesa County Coroner's Office stated that three of the teenagers, including the driver, were wearing seat belts. The other two were ejected from the vehicle and died from their injuries.
Grand Junction police and fire crews were alerted to the wreck around 7:45 a.m. Sunday after receiving a report that a vehicle may have gone over the edge of a cliff. Responders discovered the wrecked vehicle along the hillside. Speed is being investigated as a potential factor in the crash, though authorities have not yet publicly identified the driver or stated what caused the vehicle to leave the roadway.
The five victims were identified by family members and loved ones. Among them was Braden Taylor, 17, whose grandfather confirmed his death in a Facebook post. Braden Taylor was a passenger with four friends, all of whom also died in the crash. Fundraisers have been established to assist Braden Taylor's parents with funeral expenses.
Other victims identified by loved ones include Tristan Tucker, Titus Gould, William Simms, and Tyler Martinez. Tucker was reportedly preparing to start his senior year of high school. A Meal Train was created to support Gould's family, and Martinez's grandmother publicly mourned him on social media. A community Facebook post from Modern Classic Motors noted the tragedy weighed heavily as students returned to school, sharing donation links for all five families.
The Grand Junction Police Department expressed its condolences to the families and the community, stating, "Our hearts are heavy following the tragic losses this weekend. You're our neighbors, our friends, and our family. We grieve alongside our community and stand together to support one another."