Clarence, N.Y. (WBEN) - A one-vehicle crash in Clarence on Monday afternoon took the lives of two teenagers.
New York State Police say at approximately 4:10 p.m. EST, a 2020 Jeep Cherokee was traveling east bound on Delaware Road near Goodrich in the town of Clarence when the vehicle crossed into the oncoming lane, then exited the roadway on the north shoulder. The Jeep overturned and struck a tree.
Two teenagers were in the vehicle at the time of the crash. The driver, identified as 17-year-old Luke Malinich of Amherst, and passenger Lauren Taggert, 17-years-old of Williamsville. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
"It is very difficult. You have a 17-year-old driver, 17-year-old passenger, both seniors at Williamsville South High School," said New York State Trooper James O'Callaghan on Tuesday. "A lot of the community is backing up behind this. The schools providing a lot of mental health professionals for this time to deal with students and friends and faculty at the school. Obviously State Police not only last night, but this morning, we've been in very close contact with the families throughout this whole thing. It's a very tragic event."
"The Williamsville Central School District is heartbroken by the loss of Williamsville South seniors Lauren Taggart and Luke Malinich," the district said in a statement on Tuesday. "Our thoughts are with the Taggart and Malinich families during this difficult time. Grief counselors and support staff are available for students and staff."
The crash is still under investigation, but State Police believe the vehicle
was traveling at a high rate of speed, which is believed to be a factor in the
crash.
"We are still looking into that," O'Callaghan said. "New York State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit are doing their investigation. It's nicer weather today, so they're out there again, looking at the roadways, doing some measurements. We are looking into data within the vehicle, but that does take time. So when they have an approximation, which they will in the next, at least, maybe even week, we'll have a better estimation of that actual speed upon impact."
Parents at Williamsville South and Mill Middle, where the victims went prior to
high school, were informed of the situation by email Monday night. The district said mental health professionals would be at the schools to provide support to students and staff as needed and will remain there for the rest of the week.
“Children may have varied reactions to the death of a classmate. Your son or daughter may feel sad, scared, or confused about what happened. Please do not hesitate to reach out to someone here at South if you or someone in your family needs someone to speak to," according to the email.
Trooper O'Callaghan is also encouraging all parents, in a time like this, to be mindful with their teenagers who may be driving, and remind them to be aware of any and all risks to avoid a tragic incident from happening. This also includes putting phones away and avoiding from being a distracted driver.
"Everyone that's been a driver for a while can put themselves back in the shoes of being a newer driver, and being a newer driver on the road, you do think there is a little bit of that 'I'm invincible' [mentality]," O'Callaghan said. "You're young, you have a lot of life left to go, and it's one of those things where as a parent, this is where you really got to push in and just consistently remind your young drivers in house that it is dangerous to truly obey those speed limits, the rules, and to just be attentive to driving yourself. Don't drive distracted.
"Life as a young person, their phone's usually attached at their hand. So when you are driving, as anyone should but especially our young drivers, remove yourself from those distractions and really concentrate on driving and self-controlling your speed. Don't drive distracted, wear your seatbelt, those things that could really change the outcome of going from A-to-B."
The crash comes less than a week after two 19-year-old women died in a one vehicle crash on Warner Road in Lancaster, March 2.
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