Four young adults from Wrightwood, California, died Friday after their vehicle veered off the Angeles Crest Highway and plunged down an embankment, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
The black Hyundai Veloster went off the road just before 1:30 a.m. The car overturned and rolled down a hill before crashing into a utility pole. Of the six occupants, five were ejected from the vehicle. Four of the individuals were pronounced dead at the scene.
The deceased have been identified by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office as Rebekah Cabral-Gonzalez, 21; Jason Potter, 19; and Nevaeh Harper, 20. A fourth victim, identified on social media as Cole Torres, has not yet been officially named by authorities.
Two other passengers were transported to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. Their conditions were not immediately clear.
Preliminary investigations suggest that alcohol may have been a contributing factor in the crash, and none of the vehicle's occupants were wearing seatbelts, the CHP stated, as reported by the Antelope Valley Press.
Friends and family have created GoFundMe pages to support the families of the victims. Rebekah Cabral-Gonzalez was remembered as a free spirit with a love for the outdoors and music, who also worked as a ski instructor and in behavioral health and special education. Her GoFundMe described her as having an "extraordinary bond" with her twin sister and being "unselfish with her time."
Jason Potter was described as a talented snowboarder whose "infectious energy" and "passion" made him deeply loved by his community. His GoFundMe page stated he "touched more lives than he probably ever realized."
Nevaeh Harper's loss was called "heartbreaking," with her fundraiser noting that she "inspired the people around her through her liveliness."
A GoFundMe for Cole Torres, created by a friend of his mother, mentioned that he had recently learned he was going to be an uncle to a baby girl, adding to the devastation of his loss.
An Instagram account dedicated to local snowboarding paid tribute to Potter and Torres, calling them "the best kids on the planet from the best families" and noting they were "beloved by everyone."
As of Monday morning, the GoFundMe campaigns had collectively raised over $40,000 to help cover funeral expenses and ease financial burdens on the families.