A tragic car accident in Newport Beach claimed the lives of five high school students on their way to the beach on May 28, according to Orange County Sheriff spokesperson Jim Amormino. The victims were high school students in the Irvine Unified School District, three girls and two boys, ages 16 and 17.
The Infiniti sedan the teens were traveling in veered off the side of the road and hit a tree. Some witnesses speculated that speed was a factor, but officials have not released the cause of the accident.
“There are simply no words to convey the sorrow felt by our students and staff, nor are there sufficient answers to explain the loss of five vibrant teenagers from our schools and this community,” said Irvine Unified School District Superintendent Terry Walker to the Huffington Post. “It was a horrific accident.”
Teenagers are statistically at a higher risk for fatal accidents compared to older drivers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), teenage drivers with teenage passengers in the car increases the risk of an accident. Teens are more likely to speed and use their phones while driving and are less likely to buckle up. One CDC study estimates approximately 54 percent of teen drivers regularly use their seat belt.
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