According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, three high school students died on Friday night in a rollover crash on the US-70 at milepost 327, west of Pima.
The victims have been identified as Kade Nelson, Mason Gann and Emmett Darnell. The boys were 16 and 17-years-old and lived in the towns of Thatcher, Fort Thomas and Duncan.
Students and faculty were returning from the National Hot Rod Association in Phoenix. The victims were in one of two Eastern Arizona College passenger vans traveling from the event. At approximately 10 p.m., the van was traveling eastbound on US-70. For reasons unknown, the van crossed over into the westbound lane, left the road and subsequently rolled over. The boys were ejected from the van and later died.
The driver and five other high school students traveling in the passenger van with the victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries, according to authorities. Their names have not yet been released.
According to authorities, the cause of the crash is still under investigation. Impairment does not appear to be a factor at this time.
The students were considered part-time Eastern Arizona College students, according to college spokesperson Kris McBride. College President Todd Haynie said the students’ deaths are a tragic loss and released a statement saying, “We join the entire community in prayer for the families and friends of these students and send our heartfelt condolences to them.”
No other information was immediately available.
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