Olive Koren,Sienna Katz Obituary, Death; – The 16-year-old driver of the SUV, which collided with a redwood tree, ignited in flames, resulting in the deaths of four teenage girls, was reportedly traveling 20 to 25 mph above the speed limit and lost control while navigating a curve in April in rural Marin County, as stated by the California Highway Patrol, according to a report from The San Francisco Chronicle.
A report from the CHP indicated that there was no indication that the driver, who suffered severe burns, of a 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan swerved off westbound San Geronimo Valley Road between Fairfax and Woodacre to evade an oncoming vehicle. This scenario was considered after a 14-year-old survivor of the incident informed the police that they observed headlights just prior to the crash, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Lead investigator Darrel Horner attributed the accident to the driver’s excessive speed, taking into account the road’s limited visibility, narrow lanes, small shoulders, and adjacent forest. The driver’s lack of experience, having held her license for only five months, likely played a role in her inability to manage these conditions safely at high speeds, according to the investigator.
The CHP has recommended that the Marin County District Attorney’s Office pursue charges of gross vehicular manslaughter against the driver. The report from August found no signs of intoxication but highlighted speeding, an unsafe turn, and violations of provisional license restrictions, as the driver was prohibited from carrying passengers under the age of 20 with her provisional license.
The victims of the crash were identified as Olive Koren, 14, Sienna Katz, 15, Josalyn Osborn, 15, and Ada Kepley, 15, all of whom were students at Archie Williams High School in San Anselmo.
