Two teens are dead, others seriously injured after a car rolls down ravine near Kennewick

Two teens are dead and another has life-threatening injuries after a car crashed Friday night just south of Kennewick, according to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.

The crash was called in at 9:20 p.m. near 73016 E. Homestead Road off East Country Heights Drive.

Dennis Morris, Benton County coroner chief deputy, said Mally Bruckelmyer, 16, died before she could be taken to a hospital.

Carma Pekkala, 15, died at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, he said.

There were six people in the car, all girls ages 15 to 17, according to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.

The initial caller to 911 said that the car had rolled several times and was in a ravine.

Three people with severe injuries and one with serious injuries were reported as the initial emergency responders arrived. One person was trapped in the car.

The sheriff’s office posted Saturday afternoon that “speed and unfamiliarity with the location” may have contributed to the driver losing control.

This story was originally published October 7, 2023 at 1:40 PM.