Murrieta Police Release New Details on Deadly Crash

MURRIETA, CA- Following last weekend’s deadly crash that claimed the lives of three Hemet teens, Murrieta police confirmed Tuesday that speed and alcohol are being investigated as possible factors in the tragedy.

According to Murrieta Sgt. Jay Froboese, the investigation is ongoing, but police have determined that the teens were speeding.

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“At this point in the investigation it appears from the fatal injuries to the occupants and severe damage to the vehicle that speed was a definite factor in the collision,” Froboese said in a news release Tuesday afternoon.

“There were no other vehicles involved in the collision and only one witness to the actual collision,” he continued. “The witness was headed northbound on Winchester and observed the silver 2002 Lexus IS300 at a high rate of speed southbound just prior to the collision.”

Kile Kennedy III, 13, Tate Herman, 18, and Anthony Aleman, 16 all died at the scene, according to the coroner’s office. Kennedy had just turned 13 less than two hours earlier.

Froboese also said Tuesday that alcohol was found at the crash site– however, it’s still unclear if all or any of the boys were drinking.

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“Alcohol was found in the vehicle during the police investigation, but it is unknown at this time if alcohol was a factor in the collision,” the sergeant said. “This will not be known until toxicology reports are received from the coroner. This will not occur for several weeks.”

Another thing that remains unclear at this time is exactly who was behind the wheel at the time of the crash, according to Froboese.

The sergeant made a renewed request for any witnesses who might have seen a silver 2002 Lexus IS300 southbound Winchester around between 1:20 a.m. to 1:40 a.m. Saturday morning to contact Investigator Dave Hernandez at 951-461-6396.