Military School Students Died In Truck Rollover Crash
CONIFER, Colo. (CBS4)- The three teenagers who died in a rollover crash near Conifer Tuesday afternoon have been identified. Another teen was seriously injured.
According to the Colorado State Patrol, Dodge Dakota pickup was traveling southbound near 12448 South Foxton Road when the driver lost control of the vehicle and traveled off the right side of the road.
After leaving the road, the Dodge began to rollover as it went down an embankment, about 20-30 feet, finally coming to a stop in a creek.
There were four males in the truck when it crashed. The driver, Jake Whitting, 18, of Glen Head, New York, and two passengers, John Yoder, 19 of Denver and AJ Ricketts, 16, from Nigeria, died. The third passenger, Marshall Otter, 17, of Ulysses, Kansas was rushed to St. Anthony Hospital with serious injuries. He's expected to make a full recovery.
Whitting was valedictorian of the St. John's Military School in Salina, Kansas.
LINK: St. John's Military School Statement
The Colorado State Patrol said alcohol and/or drugs were investigated in connection with the crash. They are also looking at speed as a factor.
"That's what looks like happened, the car was going too fast around the curve, lost control and rolled down the embankment through the rocks," said Colorado State Patrol Sgt. Donald Enloe.
The cadets were on a camping trip after graduating on Saturday.
