PLANO, Texas — Updated at 3:07 p.m. with names of victims.
Three teenagers died early Monday after a car hit two trees, split in half and traveled more than 150 feet before catching fire, Plano police say.
Police closed Hedgcoxe Road between Independence Parkway and Coit Road around 5 a.m.
A BMW sedan was headed eastbound on Hedgcoxe Road when the crash occurred. Police said speed was a factor.
The car caught fire. The three teenagers in the car were pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.
The driver has been identified as 18-year old Yuxuan Wang. The passengers have been identified as 16-year old Yuchen Jin and 18-year old Jin Chen. All are from Plano, police said.
Two of the teenagers were students in the Plano Independent School District, officials said. The third is a former student.
Counselors will be on the Plano Senior High School and Plano West Senior High School campuses, school officials said.
Police say they were alerted to the crash by the car's safety service, which called to report the incident.
Plano ISD statement:
Our Plano ISD family joins with Plano Senior High and Plano West Senior High in mourning the lives lost over the weekend, including two currently enrolled students and a former student. We extend our sincere condolences to the students’ families, and to our students and staff members affected by this tragedy. Additional counselors and other administrative staff will be onsite at the campuses and will make themselves available for as long as they are needed to support students and staff during this difficult time.
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