A 16-year-old Kentridge High School student was on life support after injuries he suffered Tuesday morning in a multi-car collision in Kent as he drove to school.
Kent Police initially reported the boy had died but later issued a media release that he was on life support at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
A miscommunication between hospital and law enforcement staff led to inaccurate reports of the student’s death, according to a Kent School District media release.
“We are hoping for the best, but are also preparing our students, staff, and community for any eventuality,” said Chris Loftis, the district’s executive director of communications. “Our hopes and prayers rest now with our student and the student’s family.”
The collisions occurred at about 7:19 a.m. at the intersection of South 208th Street and 120th Place Southeast, according to a Kent Police media release. The streets are only one-third of a mile from the high school.
Police investigators report that the boy was westbound on South 208th Street passing through the intersection when a northbound vehicle, driven by a 49-year-old Kent woman on 120th Place, attempted to make a left turn onto westbound 208th. The vehicles collided and the impact caused the boy’s vehicle to lose control and cross into the westbound lanes of 208th.
A vehicle westbound on 208th, driven by a 58-year-old Kent woman, approached the intersection and attempted to avoid the oncoming vehicle, but collided with it causing significant damage to both vehicles.
A Renton Police detective came across the collision, called Kent Police and started life-saving efforts on the teen driver. Kent officers and paramedics continued the life-saving efforts. Medic One transported the boy to Harborview Medical Center, where he remained on life support.
Officials have not yet released the name of the boy.
Both woman drivers were transported to hospitals for non-life threatening injuries.
“There are multiple factors to this collision scene and it is too early in the investigation to make any specific determinations,” said Kent Police Traffic Sgt. Robert Constant. “However, we can all say this is an absolute tragedy to lose one so young in our community.”
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