Marshalltown, IA : Five teenagers dead in two vehicles crash on Sunday October 8 2016

A man driving the wrong way on an interstate highway in Vermont spawned several crashes that left five teenagers dead, an unknown number injured and at least two vehicles in flames, including a stolen police cruiser, state police said Sunday.

A Vermont school principal said the five teenagers, who were all riding in the same vehicle, were high school juniors. Four were students at Harwood Union High School, co-Principal Amy Rex said, and a fifth student attended a different school.

"This is an unprecedented tragedy; we have suffered a tremendous loss," Rex said. "These students were vibrant members of our school community, actively involved and all with a promise for a bright future."

Police on Sunday evening identified the five teenagers killed. They are: Mary Harris, 16, of Moretown; Cyrus Zschau, 16, of Moretown; Liam Hale, 16, of Fayston; Janie Cozzi, 15, of Fayston; and Eli Brookens, 16, of Waterbury.

The alleged wrong-way driver, identified as 36-year-old Steven Bourgoin, remained hospitalized with unknown injuries, police said.

The high school opened Sunday and will be open on Monday's holiday for anyone wanting to meet with a crisis team. A vigil will be held at the high school at 6 p.m. Monday.

Emergency dispatchers started getting calls about a vehicle traveling north in a southbound lane of the interstate late Saturday. State and local police officers tried to locate the vehicle, but soon began getting reports of the crash.

A vehicle was in flames when a Williston officer arrived at the scene. He grabbed a fire extinguisher before pulling a female victim away from the burning vehicle, authorities said.

Source :
Principal: 5 teens killed in crash were high school juniors