A Bay Area community is reeling after the deaths of four classmates in a vehicle crash on Friday.
California Highway Patrol officers responded to a call for help at 7:30 p.m. Friday on San Geronimo Valley Road near Sir Francis Drake in West Marin. First responders discovered a Volkswagen SUV that had gone off the road and collided into a tree. Six teenagers between the ages of 14 and 16 had major injuries. Three were declared deceased at the scene, and another died after being transported to a nearby hospital.
The Volkswagen’s driver and one additional passenger remain in critical condition. All six were classmates at Archie Williams High School in San Anselmo. The school has an enrollment of approximately 1,140 students.
“This is an incredibly heart wrenching time for our entire school and broader community,” Tamalpais Union High School District Superintendent Tara Taupier wrote in a statement. “As we await more information, we know the Tam District community will pull together in compassion, care, and support for one another.”
The identities of the deceased have not yet been released; the Marin Independent Journal reported they are all girls. Taupier’s statement asked that community members refrain from speculating about the cause of the crash as CHP continues its investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to get in touch with CHP’s Marin office at 415-407-3924.
