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Lone Survivor Of Triple-Fatal Crash Near Conifer Expected To Recover

By Kelly Werthmann

CONIFER, Colo. (CBS4) - Four teenagers involved in a rollover crash near Conifer on Tuesday have been identified. Only one of the teens survived and the Colorado State Patrol said drugs and alcohol are suspected factors in the deadly crash.

Conifer crash
(credit: CBS)
Conifer crash
(credit: CBS)

One of the passengers killed was John Yoder, 19, of Denver. His Facebook page quickly filled with messages from his friends grieving his sudden death. A friend who has known Yoder since middle school spoke with CBS4's Kelly Werthmann, describing his late friend as "fearless."

"He never backed down about anything," Winter Tomas said. "He was never scared about anything. He was really funny, too."

jake whitting john yoder
Jake Whitting and John Yoder (credit: St. John's Military School)
aj ricketts marshall otter
AJ Ricketts and Marshall Otter (credit: St. John's Military School)

Yoder attended East High School before going to St. John's Military School in Kansas. That's where he met Jake Whitting, 18, of New York, A.J. Ricketts, 16, from Nigeria and Marshall Otter, 17, of Kansas. The four teens were on a camping trip in Colorado when the truck Whitting was driving lost control and crashed near Conifer. Otter was the only survivor.

"Devastated, honestly," Tomas said of his reaction to the crash.

Authorities said they learned of the crash when another driver spotted a body in a field about 50 yards from the truck crash site.

CONIFER CRASH map

Yoder, Ricketts and Whitting were all pronounced dead at the scene. Otter is recovering from his injuries at St. Anthony's Hospital and is expected to be okay.

"I just really regret not being able to see him these last couple months," Tomas said.

Kelly Werthmann joined the CBS4 team in 2012 as the morning reporter, covering national stories like the Aurora Theater Shooting and devastating Colorado wildfires. She now reports for CBS4 News at 10 and is always open to story ideas. Connect with her on Facebook or Twitter @KellyCBS4.

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