Five 17-year-old friends died when their vehicle went off a cliff in Grand Junction, Colorado, on Saturday night. The incident occurred on Lookout Lane, where the vehicle veered off the roadway and fell down a steep incline, according to the Grand Junction Police Department. Three of the teenagers were wearing seat belts, while two were ejected from the vehicle due to not being buckled in. All five sustained fatal injuries from the crash.
Authorities were notified of the accident at approximately 7:45 a.m. on Sunday, when a report was made about a vehicle possibly having gone over the edge of a cliff. Police and firefighters found the wrecked vehicle at the scene. Speed is being investigated as a potential factor in the accident, but the driver has not been publicly identified, and the cause of the vehicle leaving the roadway remains unclear.
The Mesa County Coroner's Office has stated that it will not release the names of the teenagers due to its policy against publicly identifying minors. However, family members have confirmed the identities of the victims, which include Braden Taylor, Tristan Tucker, Titus Gould, William Simms, and Tyler Martinez. The community is mourning the loss, with local businesses and individuals expressing their condolences and support for the families affected by the tragedy. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist with funeral expenses for Braden's family, and other fundraising efforts are underway for the other victims' families as well.