A teen without a license has been arrested for driving under the influence after a crash sent six other teens to the hospital with life-threatening injuries early Monday, according to Fairfax County police.
“What is clear is that speed and alcohol were absolutely factors of the crash. Most of the juveniles, from what we have been able to determine so far, were not wearing their seatbelts,” said Lt. James Curry with Fairfax County police.
Detectives and police drones are working to reconstruct the 5 a.m. crash in the 2600 block of Pioneer Lane in Merrifield.
“The driver of this Lincoln SUV was likely traveling at very high rate of speed as it crested the hill. When it crested the hill, the driver lost control. The vehicle then struck a tree, which caused the car to tailspin,” Curry said.
Five of the teens were ejected from the vehicle and a sixth was extricated, Curry said during a morning news briefing. All of the injured teens are in critical condition, Curry said.
The driver managed to get out of the vehicle on his own.
All seven in the SUV were between the ages of 14 and 17, and some of them were related to each other.
The fact that the teens were not wearing seat belts likely contributed to the severity of their injuries, Curry said.
He said that while we often think of adults drinking and driving this time of the year, “it’s easy to forget that juveniles do partake in alcohol illegally.”
Feature photo of Lt. Curry, Fairfax County Police Department/Facebook
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