The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the two teenage boys who were struck and killed by a pickup early Tuesday morning in east Vancouver.
Taylor T. Crepeau, 14, and Andrew A. Friedt, 17, both of Vancouver, died from multiple blunt force injuries, according to the medical examiner, who listed their manners of death as accidental.
Taylor was an eighth-grader at Wy’east Middle School, according to Evergreen Public Schools.
Friedt was previously a student at Mountain View High School but had not been enrolled with the school district for about a year, district spokeswoman Gail Spolar said in an email Wednesday.
In a letter to parents, Wy’east Middle School Interim Principal Kate DeWein said news of the boys’ deaths has spread at the school, and trained counselors are on hand to help grieving students and staff.
The school is also supporting Taylor’s family and will pass along information they wish to share, DeWein said.
“We know the days ahead will provide us challenges, and we will continue to work and support our students and staff during this difficult time,” DeWein said.
The crash occurred shortly before 6:30 a.m. near the intersection of Northeast 23rd Circle and 112th Avenue, east of Interstate 205.
The boys died at the scene. They were struck by a full-size Chevrolet pickup after stepping off the curb and into the road. Both were wearing dark-colored clothing, according to the Vancouver Police Department.
Police said the driver, who has not been identified, remained on scene. Impairment on the part of the driver is not believed to be a factor. Police said the driver did not see the teens and was unable to stop before striking them.
Northeast 112th Avenue is a five-lane arterial with partial sidewalks; there are no sidewalks on the east side of the road in that area. There are streetlights but no traffic signal or marked crosswalk at that intersection.
The avenue has a deadly history, and it has been highlighted as a priority in Vancouver’s 2020-2025 Transportation Improvement Program. The project is unfunded, however.
A fundraiser has been set up to help the family of Andrew Friedt with expenses.
