CLEVELAND — Four teens are dead after a car slammed into two trees early Wednesday morning.
All four victims have been identified as 19-year-old Caurie Williams, 18-year-old Eddy Deandre Bonner, 14-year-old Kalise McGee and 14-year-old Tamera Davis, according to the medical examiner.
“This is an absolute tragedy to have four young people killed in this type of tragic accident," Todd said.
Watch the full press conference:
The crash happened on West 106th Street near Madison Avenue around 12:30 a.m. when a stolen 2014 Hyundai Sonata was speeding and crashed into two trees.
Todd said the car was torn apart, and three passengers were thrown from the car.
All four died at the scene.
Debris was visible in the yards of several homes on West 106th.
Kenneth Boyle, who lives down the street, shared with News 5 Investigators what his home surveillance video captured.
“I heard a car coming flying down the street and next thing I know I hear it hit a tree or something,” Boyle said.
News 5 Investigators asked Boyle if he heard anyone screaming.
“No, they didn't, they didn’t suffer, they was dead on impact,” Boyle said.
The car was reported stolen on Feb. 27 from an address on Wichita Avenue in Cleveland's Old Brooklyn neighborhood.
Todd said the car's owner had last seen the car in the morning, and when they went out later in the day, the car was gone. There was no indication on how the car was taken.
After the crash, Todd reviewed footage from the Real Time Crime Center and home surveillance.
"We did have the vehicle traveling in different areas throughout the city; it looked like it had just been driving around throughout the evening," Todd said.
Todd said there didn't appear to be any other cars chasing it or in the area at the time.
"When you look at a tragedy like this vehicles aren’t toys this is not, it’s dangerous the capabilities they have and if this is you know it appears it could have been a minor overcorrection that caused the accident you mix an inexperienced driver and high rates of speed and then of course it’s also a stolen vehicle," Todd said.
West 106th Street has a 25 MPH posted speed limit.
Boyle said drivers ignore it and go much faster.
“The street, it happens all the time, we call this Indianapolis 500," Boyle said.
But Boyle said this ending was a hard scene.
“It’s hard to see, especially when they’re young kids. I don’t know what’s happening with this world nowadays, especially stealing these Kia's and stuff and going out and all of a sudden wrecking 'em," Boyle said.
Police were unable to initially make contact with the victims' families because there was nothing to identify the four who were in the car at the time of the crash.
Cleveland Town Hall
Mayor Justin Bibb spoke about the incident during a town hall meeting in Cleveland Wednesday evening.
"Let’s keep our thoughts and our prayers with the families who lost four of their young people in our city late last night. Devastating to hear about that car accident," Bibb said.
Cleveland Community Relations Director Angela Shute-Woodson said she was devastated, especially since she has kids of her own and a lot of her work involves working with high school students who are falling behind.
"It’s unfortunate that stealing cars seems to be like a hobby, but it’s also unfortunate that you lose control, and you go high speed, and this is what the result [is]," Shute-Woodson said.
CMSD on deaths of two students
The Cleveland Metropolitan School District issued the following statement Thursday afternoon regarding the two 14-year-olds who died in the crash:
It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic news that three CMSD students lost their lives in a car accident early Wednesday morning.
14-year-old Kalise McGee, and 14-year-old Tamera Davis, were 8th graders at Orchard PreK-8, STEM school. 18-year-old Eddy Deandre Bonner was a High School Remote student.
Our Humanware team has deployed support services to both schools to assist students and staff during this difficult time.
Please keep their families, friends, and school communities in your thoughts.
