SEATTLE — An 18-year-old Lower Elwha Klallam member was killed when a vehicle in which he and three other teens were riding plunged off the West Seattle Bridge.
Jayden T. Campbell and two of the teens attended Port Angeles schools from elementary through high school. A fourth individual did not attend school in the district.
According to the Seattle Police Department, Campbell was a passenger in a 2014 Chevrolet Cruz that exited state Highway 99 at Harbor Island — an artificial island between the bridge and the Seattle waterfront — struck the ramp barrier and fell about 80 feet before landing upside down Saturday night.
Campbell was ejected from the vehicle and later died from his injuries at Harborview Medical Center.
Officers responding to the single-vehicle crash just after 10 p.m. found an overturned vehicle with a 16-year-old female driver trapped inside. Police and Seattle Fire Department medics freed her, and she was transported to Harborview in critical condition.
Two 17-year-old boys, both seriously injured, exited the vehicle on their own and also were hospitalized at Harborview.
The conditions of those three could not be confirmed by press time Tuesday.
Seattle police detectives with the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad are investigating the crash on suspicion of driving under the influence. Detectives recovered three bottles of BeatBox, a flavored beverage containing 11 percent alcohol, from the vehicle. They obtained a warrant for a blood draw from the driver; toxicology results are pending.
Possible charges could include reckless driving or driving under the influence, both misdemeanors. If the driver is found to have been impaired, she could be charged with vehicular homicide, a Class A felony, police said.
The vehicle was impounded for evidence processing.
“We are aware of a tragic vehicle accident that occurred in Seattle over the weekend involving several Port Angeles School District students,” the Port Angeles School District said in a statement. “Our focus right now is on supporting the students, their families and our school community during this very difficult time.”
The school district is encouraging families whose children need support to contact their school’s counseling office.
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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.
