Two dead Conestoga Valley students were in car before crash; police ID third person | Local News
Seventeen-12 months-aged Tyler Zook was in the car or truck with 16-yr-outdated Tyreese Smith early Saturday early morning, prior to activities unfolded that led to both of their fatalities, East Lampeter Township law enforcement verified Thursday early morning.
New Conestoga Valley graduate Amalie Wendt, of Ronks, was the third human being in the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe, which veered off into a area in the 500 block of Willow Highway in East Lampeter Township, rolling many instances just before coming to a prevent on its aspect. Wendt, 18, was taken from the accident to a community clinic for severe injuries in which she’s considering that been launched, law enforcement explained. The car or truck belonged to Wendt’s father, Gerhard Wendt.
East Lampeter police responded to a auto crash at 12:13 a.m. on Saturday after Wendt made a 911 contact, exactly where a 16-yr-previous boy – verified by the Lancaster County Coroner’s Place of work earlier this 7 days as Smith – died. He died of mechanical asphyxia owing to a number of traumatic injuries in the crash. His demise was dominated accidental.
East Lampeter police spokesman Lt. Rob Eachus said speed influenced the crash.
Even though at the scene, a get in touch with came in at 1:54 a.m. for officers to reply to an incident just about a mile absent from the scene wherever a 17-yr-old boy was identified dead. The Coroner’s Office verified the teenager was Zook and ruled the dying a suicide.
LNP|LancasterOnline does not frequently report on suicides, apart from in scenarios where the instances are unconventional, the person involved is nicely recognized or the death was publicly disruptive.
Smith’s mother, Bernice McKenzie, said Smith would have left for operate at the Sonic Generate-In on East Lincoln Highway all-around 6 p.m. on Friday and would’ve gone property a minor following 11 p.m. A Sonic personnel who declined to be identified confirmed Smith labored there and remaining at 11:30 p.m. Friday. The worker explained Smith typically bought a ride to function but wasn’t absolutely sure how he received to Sonic that day. McKenzie also was not absolutely sure how he received there.
In accordance to his obituary, Zook was a prepare dinner at the exact same Sonic as Smith. Eachus reported Zook was not functioning at the Sonic that evening.
Smith and Zook were each soccer gamers at Conestoga Valley Senior Substantial College. According to the Lancaster-Lebanon League football rosters, Zook experienced just completed his junior calendar year and Smith finished his sophomore calendar year.
Information and facts that was released Thursday was shared with McKenzie Wednesday night immediately after she was interviewed by a reporter.
“I wished to thank (the police) for lastly sitting down and remaining so uncomplicated and forthcoming and supplying me the data that they can give me,” McKenzie said. “I know that you will find still a large amount of unanswered issues but I was able to get some solutions and I was just super appreciative of that actuality that they did give me data and how a lot they produced me feel supported.”
Law enforcement have not unveiled data on the circumstances surrounding the crash or Wendt’s accidents.
Personnel Author Ashley Stalnecker contributed to this report.