Skamania County EMS and Rescue (SCEMS) responded to a reported motor vehicle collision on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 11:42 a.m. that resulted in the deaths of two West Linn High School students, The Enterprise reports.
The three car collision occurred near mile post 54 on State Route 14, at the Dog Mountain Trail Parking Area. Emergency crews arrived to find three vehicles involved in a rear end collision with multiple patients and heavy rear end damage to a mid-size sedan.
A Chevrolet Cruze being driven by an unnamed 17-year-old boy missed the turn for the Dog Mountain Trailhead and stopped in the middle of SR 14, according to a report by Washington State Patrol Spokesperson Lt. Will Finn. The second vehicle involved, a 2006 Honda Accord being driven by a 16-year-old boy, stopped in time behind the Cruze, but was rear-ended by a Jeep Wrangler being driven by Michael Calarco, 35, of Portland.
“Due to the speed and large bumper, the (Wrangler’s) bumper intruded through the trunk and into the rear of the passenger compartment,” Finn’s report reads.
Cooper Hill and Antonio Caballero, both juniors at West Linn High School, were killed during the accident. One was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident while the other was pronounced dead en route to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, according to Finn’s report.
Skamania County Prosecuting Attorney Adam Kick was called to the scene of the accident where it was determined that Calarco would be cited for second-degree negligent driving.
The driver and front passenger of the Accord were transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries, as was the driver of the Cruze.
The investigation of the crash also overturned “personal-use amounts of marijuana” and smoking devices in the Cruze. The driver of the Cruze and his passengers admitted to possessing the marijuana and charges for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia were referred to Skamania County Juvenile Court.
Though marijuana was found, none of the drivers involved showed signs of impairment.
SCEMS, Skamania County Fire District #1, Klickitat County EMS, Skamania County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Patrol were on scene.
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