Four teen girls killed in crash and car fire in Sarpy County

Four of five teen girls involved in a one-vehicle crash late Monday on Platteview Road died at the scene after their vehicle hit a guardrail and caught fire, authorities said.

Officials said the girls were all Gretna High School students ages 15 and 16.

The fifth student was transported to CHI Health St. Elizabeth in Lincoln with burns after the crash, which happened just after 11 p.m. Monday near 180th Street, Sarpy County Sheriff's Office officials said.

Investigators said a Ford Fusion was on Platteview Road when the vehicle went off the road. Investigators said the car hit a guardrail, went into a ravine, and caught fire. Sarpy County officials said the car was engulfed in flames when they arrived on scene.

Still early in their investigation, the Sheriff's Office is trying to determine what factors played a role in the crash. Deputies have marked the spot where the car left the road hit a guardrail.

The sheriff's office said names of the victims will be released when they are positively identified and families have been notified.

Platteview Road was closed during the investigation.

About 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, classmates and friends drove to the site of the crash, where they planned to place flowers to start a memorial, but Sarpy County deputies asked them to leave, telling the students the roads out here are just too dangerous.

Back at the high school, other students gathered to mourn. Gretna school officials say the five girls were very close friends all attended Gretna High School.

Grief counselors will be at the high school to help students cope with the tragic events.