PROWERS COUNTY, Colo. — Four teenagers were killed in a car crash on Wednesday evening near Wiley.
Around 9:34 p.m., Colorado State Patrol was notified about a crash involving two vehicles on Highway 287 at Prowers County Road 196.
At the scene, CSP said it determined that a Ford Explorer, driven by a 16-year-old male with four other teens as passengers, had been traveling eastbound on Prowers County Road 196, ran a stop sign and was hit by the semi-truck, which was northbound on Highway 287.
Four of teenagers were killed in the collision. Three were pronounced deceased at the scene, including the 16-year-old driver, a 15-year-old female and a 15-year-old male. A 16-year-old male died at a hospital.
The fifth teenager, a 15-year-old male, was flown to a hospital in Colorado Springs. His condition is not known.
The 25-year-old driver of the semi was taken to a hospital and released. A 50-year-old passenger in the semi, who was in the sleeper berth, was transported to a hospital with serious injuries and as of Thursday morning, had not been released, CSP said.
The highway reopened at 5:50 a.m. Thursday.
The Wiley School District in southeastern Colorado said it has canceled classes and activities for the day following the deaths. Students and family members can meet with teachers or counselors anytime Thursday at the school, the district said in a Facebook post.
CSP said they do not suspect drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash.
“Our hearts are with the entire Prowers community,” said Darrell Lingk, Colorado Department of Transportation director of the Office of Transportation Safety. “It’s a heartbreaking reminder of how precious life is.”
According to the CDOT, 30 of the 412 traffic deaths on Colorado roads this year were teenage drivers or passengers.
Editor's Note: Colorado State Patrol said Friday that investigators determined the teenagers did not turn in front of the semi but rather ran the stop sign and added that the female who was killed was 15 years old instead of 14.