Two teens die in car crash, third in serious condition
By Paige Dickerson, Peninsula Daily News
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Naomi Price, 18, a Forks High School honor graduate, died at the scene, and Kassandra E. Hansen, 17, a student at the high school, died at Forks Community Hospital.
They were ejected from the 2006 Ford Fusion that overturned at high speed, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Johnathan R. Fletcher, 18, who was extracated from the car by emergency personnel from Clallam County Fire District No. 1, suffered a dislocated shoulder and internal injuries.
He was taken first to Forks Community Hospital and then flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he was listed in serious condition Sunday night.
The car was traveling south on U.S. Highway 101 near its intersection with Whitcomb-Diimmel Road north of Forks.
The two-lane road veers to the right, but the car continued straight ahead, rolled over the embankment and overturned at least three times.
It stopped upside down, troopers reported.
No seat belts
None of the three was wearing seat belts, according to the State Patrol, which was unable to determine which of the three was driving the car.
Investigators said drugs or alcohol were involved in the crash. No further details were available Sunday.
The car was taken to the State Patrol yard for further investigation.
One of the young women was hit by a pickup truck which was heading south on the highway.
Troopers said the 29-year-old driver of the truck, Kori P. Davis, 29, of Forks, did not see the woman in the darkness until it was too late to stop.
Davis' gray Mazda pickup was not damaged and was driven from the scene.
It was unclear which one of the two young woman was struck by Davis' pickup truck, and troopers did not return calls requesting further information Sunday night.
Scholarship recipient
Price was a 2007 graduate of Forks High School who received multiple scholarships.
The honor student was the daughter of Glen Price and Sue Price of Beaver.
Price, who was a cheerleader last year at Forks High School, was attending Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, Ore., taking prerequisite courses for dental assistant school, said Cheri Fleck, a family friend.
She had been home for the weekend to visit family and friends.
"Naomi was a vivacious, bubbly girl," Fleck said.
"She loved cheerleading, loved dancing.
"Anytime there was a chance, she'd be dressed up to the nines."
Fleck said Price also was devoted to her family often camped with her brother and father.
"She always seemed like she had no fear — like the kind of person willing to try any new thing," Fleck said.
Hansen was to graduate in June from Forks High School, was active in 4-H and enjoyed sports.
"She loved her friends dearly, loved her dogs and was a free spirit," said DeAnn Horton, a family friend who spoke for family members and friends at Hansen's home.
Campus grief counselors
Forks High School will have grief counselors on campus today, said Quillayute Valley School District Superintendent Diana Reaume.
"We'll also call in the regional crisis team to help our students cope with this tragic loss of a student," Reaume said.
In addition to providing counseling help, Reaume said she hopes the school can be a place for community members to find support.
"We also want to be able to help provide the best support for anyone in the community who is affected by these deaths," she said.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: March 02. 2008 9:00PM