APOPKA, Fla. – A deadly crash involving a pickup truck and six teenagers in Apopka left three dead and three others seriously injured, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, troopers responded near the intersection of Welch Road and Wekiwa Drive.
According to an FHP crash report, a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado driven by a 17-year-old boy lost control while negotiating a curve. The vehicle ran off the road, struck a tree and overturned.
[VIDEO: 3 killed in Apopka pickup rollover crash involving only teens, troopers say]
Among those in the vehicle were six teenage boys, all from Apopka. Three teens — two 17-year-old passengers and a 13-year-old passenger — were pronounced dead, two at the scene and one after being taken to a hospital, troopers said.
Three other teens, ages 14, 15, and 17, were taken to hospitals with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, the FHP said.
Orange County School Board member Melissa Byrd said Sunday on social media that the teens attended Apopka High School and Kelly Park School K-8.
See her full statement below:
One of the hardest parts of being a school board member is when tragedy strikes and we lose one of our precious students.
Our Apopka and OCPS community suffered a devastating loss today when three of our students lost their lives in a tragic automobile accident in Apopka.
Please pray for Apopka High School and Kelly Park School K-8 as both these schools work through this loss. Hold your kids and loved ones tight showing your love for each other, every day.
Melissa Byrd, Orange County School Board Member, District 7
According to the FHP crash report, four passengers were not wearing seat belts, including a 17-year-old and the 13-year-old who died.
The crash remains under investigation.
Note: This map depicts the general area of this crash and not necessarily an exact location.