High Speed Crash Leaves Two Oregon Teenagers Dead

Police say it is not known at this time if alcohol was involved.

Photo of fatal crash scene: Washington County Sheriff

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Police say two teens died Saturday night in a single vehicle crash on SW Laurel Road that left the vehicle they had been traveling in mangled. Sgt. Dave Thompson with the Washington County Sheriff's Office says the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed when it left the roadway and struck a tree.

It happened Saturday at 11:06 p.m., Thompson said.

"A 911 call alerted Washington County Sheriff's deputies about a serious crash involving one vehicle in the Community of Laurel. Sheriff's deputies responded to the intersection of SW Laurel Road and SW 329th Terrace where a passerby had reported the crash."

Thompson says fire personnel pronounced the two occupants of the car deceased at the scene of the crash.

The driver was 18-year-old Grant Knighton of Cornelius and the passenger was 18-year-old Gabriel Darrah of Aloha. The Washington County Crash Analysis Reconstruction Team responded to the scene to investigate the crash.

Investigators said that speed was a factor in this case, Thompson said.

"It appears that the 2005 gold colored Toyota Camry was traveling at a high rate of speed when the driver lost control, left the roadway, and struck a tree. There were no other vehicles involved in the crash."

He says that at this time it is unknown if alcohol was involved. The investigation is ongoing.