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Grandmother: 5 Victims Killed Were Thrill Seeking

By Rick Sallinger

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - The five people who died in a rural single car crash over the weekend were likely searching for landmarks of a ghost story, according to the grandmother of two of the victims.

"They were good boys out having fun teens and a terrible thing happened," Cynthia Sanchez told CBS4's Rick Sallinger.

Angelo Andazola, one of the victims, had just been laid off from his job remodeling homes. His brother Levi, who was believed to be driving, was training to be a barber.

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The Colorado State Patrol says their car was speeding early Sunday morning when the driver lost control of the vehicle. It ran off the right side of the road and through a ditch, became airborne, collided with the ground, became airborne a second time rolling end over end and coming to a rest as it caught fire. One of the female victims was thrown from the vehicle, according to state patrol spokesman Nate Reid.

"Apparently a certain highway was supposed to be haunted and they were kids, they wanted to check it out, and tragedy came to us. Now we don't have our boys," Sanchez said.

Legend has it that there was a deadly accident in the location where the crash happened two decades ago. That one happened at what is called Third Bridge. That bridge is now believed to be haunted and a magnet for adventure-seeking kids.

The crash happened on County Line road west of Michael Gates Drive along the Arapahoe and Elbert County line.

Another family member told CBS4, "Our hearts go out to the rest of the victims too. Our hearts go out to their family as well. We're so sorry this happened."

Ironically, the car involved in the crash was in search of that other haunting story. What happened this past weekend in this single crash may become a legend, too.

Holding back tears, Sanchez said "They were just young boys. I'm sure they didn't hurt anybody. I'm sorry for their families too."

Grief counselors were brought into Lincoln High School in Denver for friends of the victims. Three of the five who died had attended Lincoln at some time.

CBS4's Rick Sallinger is a Peabody award winning reporter who has been with the station more than two decades doing hard news and investigative reporting. Follow him on Twitter @ricksallinger.

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