Two teens die, three injured in late Friday night crash on Olympic View Drive

Updated at 11:23 a.m. with photos, more details.

A tragic Friday night crash on Olympic View Drive took the lives of two young people and put three others in the hospital with what police describe as “non-life-threatening injuries.”

According to Edmonds police spokesperson Shane Hawley, the five youngsters were driving a late-model BMW sedan east on Olympic View Drive through the wooded Southwest County Park when they failed to negotiate a hairpin curve.  The curve is posted on both sides with signs warning motorists to slow to 20 mph.  The car went off north side the road, hitting a tree in the adjacent ravine.

“A passenger from the vehicle had waved down a passing motorist who called 911, ” said Hawley. “Five people were in the car at the time of the crash, all under the age of 18.  Two of the teens were already fatally wounded when officers arrived. The other three were taken to Harborview Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. Speed appears to be the primary factor in the collision.”

Due to the sensitive nature of the incident, police are not releasing images of the accident.

Resident John Quick lives just above the crash site on Andover Street.

“We heard the sirens at about 11:30 last night,” he told My Edmonds News.  “They went on for about 20 minutes. We’ve lived here for years, and are always careful on this section of roadway. It’s a 20 mph curve for a reason.”

— Story and photos by Larry Vogel

  1. I’m so sorry for the parents of these kids. What a tragic thing to wake up to. We work so hard to teach our teens to be safe and this is why. I’m so thankful my teenager was home last night. Prayers for these families.

  2. Extremely sad. I too feel so very sorry for parents, families and friends of those whose lives were lost. I wish them peace at this devastating time. My prayers are with them. To those in hospital, speedy recovery.

    What a terribly sobering reminder that this breathtakingly beautiful stretch of road can also be very, very dangerous…

  3. one of these young people lived down the street from me. Very nice young man, always had something nice to say, a wave.. I’ll miss you, and so will my kids..

  4. I was sitting at southwest county park about 500 ft from that curve in the road and I left to go home at 1115, just befor it happened. This is so sad!! My prayers go out to the family 🙁

    1. Thanks for your comment, Detrickz. KIRO TV has reported that family and friends have identified the victims as Zach Langer and Noah Vires. Our thoughts are with their families. — Teresa Wippel, Publisher

  5. I am sorry for your losses. The death of a child at whatever age is never forgotten, but the good memories will help your smile through the tears.

  6. I woke up to the report on the News and immediately checked on my kids. And though I was relieved they were ok, have come to learn that my youngest knew both who have perished. I know how my heart sunk while running to check on my boys, I can’t fathom the devastation the families are suffering right now. My heart and prayers go out to them. .

  7. Both boys killed were my brothers best friends..
    We knew them.. the passenger who got help.. shes an amazing young lady i know her too.. zach was the nicest kid.. we knew him for a long time before this it seems like it was only yestorday i told him how happy i was that he was doing well and he wanted to meet my son.. im sorry to anyone else effected and its really a tragedy..

    Both you boys are very much missed by family and friends..

  8. It is time for the city to install speed bumps and other safety measures on this road to prevent further accidents.

    1. Concur. I live on OVD and often see cars go past the “Your Speed” signs at 40 and 45 mph. We have had fatalities before…

      My condolences to the families; I have lost a loved on the same way. I wish I could comfort you.

  9. My deepest sympathy to the families of these kids. They were friends of my grandson. They were very nice boys. My grandson is devastated. May peace be with everyone involved.

  10. My name is Kristin and my son William was friends with Zach and he’d been to my house many times. I wanted to give my condolences to the families and friends of these young boys. My heart is broken for your loss, as is my son’s. My prayers and thoughts are with you. To the Uncle of Noah that I met at the tragic scene, my heart is still with you and your family. Zach and Noah we love you and we will miss you.

  11. I was in Tijuana Mexico this past week volunteering for the Esperanza organization and the leader of the organization informed the group that were to keep in our thoughts, as we helped to build a home for a family in the Esperanza program, Zach, who must have also volunteered for the organization….They were distraught and talked about what a great individual he was and that they had received word about his accident….So to the family….The St. Catherine’s Parish Youth of Seattle and the St. Vincent Youth Group of Federal Way send our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the family and friends…On Friday we worked with thoughts of Zach even though we did not know him….But the volunteer groups for Esperanza are like family since we all dedicate our time for the same reason…God bless you.

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