3 Nevada Teens Killed In California Coast Crash

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA — Three teenagers on spring break vacation were killed this week when their car was slammed by a drunk driver and sent careening into a pole on Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach, authorities say. The teenagers were visiting Southern California on their last trip before graduating from Centennial High School in northwest Las Vegas, according to reports from 13 Action News.

Family members of one of the teens told reporters the victims were high school junior Brooke Hawley, and seniors Dylan Mack and AJ Rossi. A GoFundMe page has been established for AJ Rossi's family, raising money for his funeral expenses. As of this report, more than $10,000 has been raised.

One person in the car managed to escape the flames and was hospitalized. The name of that person remained unknown at the time of this report.

The two-vehicle crash was reported at just after 1 a.m. near Magnolia Street, according to the Huntington Beach Police Department.

Bani Duarte, 27, of San Clemente, was booked on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving dunk causing bodily injury, according to Huntington Beach police Officer Angela Bennett.

The three fatally injured people were the driver and two passengers in a vehicle that was rear-ended by the other, according to police. A third passenger in the rear-ended vehicle survived, and was taken to a hospital in unknown condition. Investigators worked to confirm the identities of the victims, who were badly burned, Bennett said.

According to a report from Las Vegas News Channel 13, two vigils are set for the teens. The first will be held at 6 p.m. Friday night at Knickerbocker Park. Another vigil will be held on Saturday night at 6 p.m. at Mountain Crest Community Center.

--GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner/Photo courtesy GoFundMe page for AJ Rossi