16-year-old dead, three high schoolers hurt after car wraps around tree in Puyallup



PUYALLUP, Wash. --- A 16-year-old has died and three other juveniles are hospitalized after an early morning crash in Puyallup.

According to Puyallup Police, a vehicle driven by 16-year-old Diego Villegas crashed and wrapped around a tree sometime at 1:25 a.m. The crash had closed W. Stewart Ave from the 1800-2100 blocks for much of the morning commute.

All four high schoolers in the car were taken to the hospital, where Villegas later died. Villegas was a student at Rogers High School.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Q13 News reporter John Hopperstad says the car crashed into the tree so hard that the top of the tree snapped and fell into the street.

Police suspect speed was a factor in the crash. Detectives estimate the car was going 80 to 85 mph in a 35 mph speed zone.

It's unknown if drugs or alcohol were involved.