Four high school students are dead and two are in critical condition after a car crashed into a tree and caught fire Friday night in Marin County.
All six, ages 14 to 16, were students at Archie Williams High School in San Anselmo. Three were pronounced dead at the scene.
“This is an incredibly heart wrenching time for our entire school and broader community,” Tamalpais Union High School District Superintendent Tara Taupier wrote in an email to families Saturday morning.
“We recognize that in a close-knit community such as ours, many of you may have already heard about this incident or may know individuals involved,” she continued. “During this difficult time, we ask that everyone refrain from sharing unconfirmed information out of respect for the students, their families, and the ongoing investigation.”
The deceased were identified by Principal Jacob Gran of Archie Williams High School as Olive Koren, Josalynn Osborn, Sienna Katz, and Ada Kepley. Elsa Laremont Stranczek and Marley Barclay survived the crash, Gran wrote in an email to students.
The Volkswagen SUV carrying the teenagers was heading west on St. Francis Drake Boulevard when it collided with a tree on the shoulder of Geronimo Valley Drive in the town of Woodacre around 7:30 p.m. Friday, according to the California Highway Patrol.
“I extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and classmates of the four young students whose lives were tragically lost in this heartbreaking crash,” said CHP Marin Area Commander Capt. Amy Newton. “No words can ease the pain of such a devastating loss, and our hearts are with the entire community as they grieve.”
Online fundraisers for Olive, Josalynn, Ada, and Marley had collectively raised more than $300,000 as of Monday morning; those for Marley and Josalynn raised more than $100,000 each. The GoFundMe pages carry messages of shock, heartbreak, and support from friends of the families.
Marley was in critical condition at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland, according to a statement Monday from her parents, Jessica Glantz and Ross Barclay.
Marley walked from her home to downtown Fairfax to meet the driver, who was getting off work at 7:15 p.m., according to her parents. They said all the girls were wearing seatbelts.
“Our hearts are with the families of the four beautiful young souls lost far too soon. There are no words for the sorrow we share,” the statement said. “We grieve beside you and hold you close in our thoughts every moment. One other passenger joins Marley as a survivor and we offer all our love and support to her family.”
Marley was pulled from the wreckage by a woman “who saved her life,” her parents said, referring to the woman as their daughter’s “guardian angel.”
The coroner’s division at the Marin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the victims were a 14-year-old, two 15-year-olds, and a 16-year-old girl.
Chief Deputy Roger Fielding added that investigators had not made any conclusions about the cause of death but cited “extensive injuries sustained within the collision.” Forensic exams have been scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, with routine toxicology testing results not due back for many weeks, Fielding said.
Taupier said the school district is collaborating with the county to arrange grief and counseling support to staff and students.
“As we await more information, we know the Tam District community will pull together in compassion, care, and support for one another,” Taupier wrote.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information can contact the CHP’s Marin office at (415) 924-1100.