1 teen killed, 3 others hospitalized after violent crash into tree

PUYALLUP, Wash. — One teenager was killed and three others were hurt in a violent crash that left a car wrapped around a tree.

PHOTOS: Teen killed, 3 others hurt in crash that wrapped car around tree

Puyallup police said the one-car crash in the 1900 block of West Stewart Street happened at 1:25 a.m. Tuesday.

All four teens were taken to local hospitals by Central Pierce Fire. The 16-year-old boy who was driving was in critical condition and later died at the hospital. He was identified as Diego Villegas.

The surviving teens are expected to be OK.

Puyallup police said the car was heading east on Stewart at a high rate of speed when Villegas tried to pass another car, lost control and hit the tree.  Investigators say he was driving at least 50 mph over the speed limit in a 35 mph zone.

According to Puyallup Police Captain Portmann, the teenagers are all boys ages 16 or 17 who had been at a house party where there were about a dozen kids. The homeowners were out of town and unaware there was a party, he said.

Portmann said speed and impairment were factors in the crash.

KIRO 7 video from the scene showed an evidence marker next to an empty pint bottle of Barcardi rum a short distance from the car.

Villegas was a student at Rogers High School.  Two of the passengers attend Puyallup High School and the third is a student at Orting High School.

Villegas will be honored at a vigil Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. at the Rogers High School baseball field in Puyallup.

Cox Media Group