ALEXANDRIA, Ohio (AP) – Residents of a small Licking County town gathered to remember three teenagers killed when a speeding vehicle went off the road and struck a tree.
The candlelight vigil Thursday night in Johnstown was organized after the three teens were killed earlier in the day near Alexandria, about 35 miles east of Columbus.
The victims were Michael Hoskinson, 17, Linzie Bell and Cheyenne Spurgeon, both 15, all of Johnstown. The Ohio State Highway Patrol says they were riding in the back seat of a 2003 Mitsubishi Diamante when went out of control and crashed into a tree. The force of the impact tore the nearly in half.
The patrol says the driver, Jaylynn Rigio and front-seat passenger, Ashton Cody, both 16 and also Johnstown residents, were injured and taken to Columbus hospitals.
The patrol says none of the five were wearing their seatbelts.