Teens killed in crash likely speeding

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WARREN, Ohio, March 11 (UPI) -- A car crash in Warren, Ohio, that killed six teenagers likely happened because the driver of the vehicle was speeding, investigators said.

The crash happened at about 7 a.m. Sunday when a black sport-utility vehicle struck and rolled over a guardrail and landed on its roof in a 4- to 5-foot-deep pond, the Warren Tribune Chronicle reported.

Six teenagers died in the crash: driver Alexis Cayson, 19, Andrique Bennett, 14, Kirklan M. Behner, 15, Daylan Ray, 15, Brandon A. Murray, 17, and Ramone M. White, 15.

Brian K. Henry, 18, and Asher C. Lewis, 15, managed to get out of the vehicle and run to a nearby house to call 911.

Patrol Lt. Brian Holt at a Sunday evening briefing said the driver of the vehicle was likely traveling faster than the 35 mph speed limit. He did not say whether drugs or alcohol factored into the crash.

The vehicle was registered to Marguis Stephenson of Youngstown, police said. It was unclear whether Stephenson had a relationship with any of those in the vehicle.

Holt said investigators found none of those involved in the crash had "express" permission to be in the vehicle.

"We don't have exact information yet, but it is part of our investigation now," Holt said.