A teenage girl died, three teens are seriously hurt and an adult driver is injured after a fiery car crash Tuesday night in Burke, Virginia, authorities say.
The teen who died was a 17-year-old recent graduate of James W Robinson, Jr. Secondary School, her family said. Her 16-year-old brother is among those seriously hurt.
The four teenagers were in a car driving in the 5700 block of Burke Centre Parkway at about 9 p.m. when another car slammed into them, causing their car to burst into flames, Fairfax County police said after an initial investigation.
Video obtained by News4 shows bystanders desperately trying to pull the teenagers from the burning car before firefighters arrived. The three teens and the driver of the other car were taken to a hospital.
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Family members and friends brought flowers to the crash site Wednesday morning. Henry Zarco brought a stuffed animal for his niece who was killed in the crash because she always liked them.
“She always had a smile on her face, and that’s the image that I have in my head right now,” Zarco said.
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He asked for prayers for his nephew, who is hospitalized and on a ventilator.
Zarco told News4 he is not ready to share his niece’s name and police have yet to identify her. The young people in the car attended high school together and had been headed home from a prayer service.
“She gave her all, she gave her life to God and served him,” Zarco said. “And it’s just, it’s the hardest thing ever, you know? I just don’t understand why.”
A man whose granddaughter was friends with the teen girl who died brought flowers to honor her.
“Who knows what kind of dreams this young lady had … it’s sad,” he said.
In a news conference, Fairfax County police Lt. Jim Curry said "speed was a factor" for the second driver, a man.
Police had initially said that both drivers survived.
The driver believed to have caused the crash was not immediately charged. The investigation is ongoing.
As loved ones of the teen who died stood near the crash site on Wednesday, a woman walked up and began to hug them.
“I don’t know any of you, but I’m so sorry,” she said.
This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.
