A teenager is dead following a rollover accident in Tombstone, according to a news release from the Tombstone Marshal's Office.
Authorities say on Friday night just after 10 p.m. deputies from the Cochise County Sheriff's Department and Tombstone Marshal's Office responded to milepost 15 on Charleston Road for a report of a motor vehicle accident.
Car pieces are left at the scene where 1 teen died, 4 people injured in a car crash in Tombstone Friday @kgun9 pic.twitter.com/bgDoUhaVhG
— Priscilla KGUN9 (@PriscillaCasper) December 19, 2016
Deputies learned that a single vehicle was carrying five passengers, with four of the occupants under 18 years of age.
The vehicle had been traveling south on Charleston Road and appeared to over-correct through a curve which caused the vehicle to lose control and drive off the roadway into a ditch.
The car was on Charleston Rd when it over corrected through the curve, lost control & rolled over into ditch @kgun9 pic.twitter.com/2nbSuNsFjx
— Priscilla KGUN9 (@PriscillaCasper) December 19, 2016
The vehicle then partially rolled onto the driver's side.
Deputies say three of the occupants were ejected from the vehicle which killed Melody Olson, a Tombstone High School sophomore, and seriously injured the others.
The 19-year-old driver of the vehicle was pinned in their seat which required crews to extricate the driver from the vehicle along with the passenger in the front.
Deputies say all four of the remaining injured occupants were transported by helicopter to either Banner University Medical Center or Tucson Medical Center for treatment.
All of the victims in the crash were high school students of Yellowjacket High School in Tombstone and were traveling to Sierra Vista after a school function, according to deputies.
Olson's mother was with her during the concert.
"The last thing I said to her was, 'Love you my chunka," said Brandie Declet, Olson's mother.
The Tombstone Marshal's Office provided the following message in the news release:
Please slow down on our highways, especially at night. And of course ALWAYS use your seatbelts.
A tragedy such as this affects all of us terribly. Our most sincere condolences to the family and friends of the victims involved.
