Pleasant Grove High School Student Accident: A tragic single-vehicle crash in Sloughhouse claimed the lives of two teenage girls and left three others seriously injured shortly after midnight on Sunday, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The CHP said a 16-year-old and a 14-year-old died in the crash, and the three who were injured are students at Pleasant Grove High School.
Emergency crews with the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District responded around 12:30 a.m. to the area of Scott Road near Latrobe Road, where they discovered a vehicle engulfed in flames after it crashed into a tree. Authorities said the driver, a 16-year-old girl, and a 14-year-old passenger seated in the front-right seat were pronounced dead at the scene. Three additional passengers survived the collision and were reportedly rescued from the burning vehicle by passing motorists before emergency responders arrived.
The injured victims were transported to nearby hospitals with serious injuries. CHP officials confirmed that the survivors are students at Pleasant Grove High School. Two of the injured students have been identified as ages 16 and 15, while the age of the third victim has not yet been released.
In response to the tragedy, Elk Grove Unified School District announced that grief counselors will be available Monday at Pleasant Grove High School, Elk Grove High School, and Albiani Middle School to support students and staff affected by the devastating loss.
Investigators with the CHP stated that speed appears to have played a role in the crash. Authorities are continuing to investigate and have not yet determined whether alcohol or drugs were contributing factors in the deadly incident.