1 teen killed, 4 hurt in Ohio car crash

[August 09, 2012]  COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- A 15-year-old boy was killed and his four friends were injured when the car they were riding in crashed about 18 miles west of Columbus. They were all members of a high school marching band.

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office said David Phillips III, the front seat passenger, died after he was thrown from the vehicle around 5 p.m. Wednesday. The driver, 16-year-old Trent Andrew Burchett and three other passengers -- Joshua T. Jaccaud, 16; Ian T. Latorrie, 14; and Alex M. Stemple, 15 -- were taken to Nationwide Children's Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Police say Burchett lost control of a 1993 Saab while driving in Brown Township and the vehicle went off the road, hitting a fence and rolling over at least once.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that the teens were members of the Hilliard Bradley High School marching band, which was holding practice sessions on Wednesday.

As the band gathered to begin its evening session, director Mark Oppenheimer told them David Phillips had been killed in the crash about two miles from the school, the newspaper said. He would have been a sophomore at the school this year.

Band members were sent home and practice was cancelled for the rest of the week.

Police said the five left together after a break from the band's afternoon practice session and may have headed off to get dinner.

Sgt. Carl Hickey told The Dispatch that Trent Burchett has had his driver's license for a couple of months. Under Ohio law, drivers who are 16 years old are not permitted to operate a motor vehicle with more than one person who is not a family member, unless accompanied by a parent, guardian or custodian.

Police said speed is believed to have been a factor in the crash. No charges have been filed.

[Associated Press]

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