Two teenagers from Chicago were killed Monday in a crash in Hammond, Indiana.
At about 10 p.m. Monday, officers responded to the intersection of 108th Street and Indianapolis Boulevard in Hammond for calls of a serious vehicle crash, Hammond police said.
A preliminary investigation found that a vehicle carrying three people had slammed into a truck.
"The vehicle was coming from (the) Chicago area at high rate of speed and went through (a) red light," said officer Steve Kellogg.
Two passengers of the vehicle, an 18-year-old identified as Mia Rodriguez and a 17-year-old identified as Emily Perez, were pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The driver of the truck received minor injuries.
"I can’t believe it, I can’t wrap my mind around it," said the mother of one of the teens' friends, Myra Vellagas.
Friends say Rodriguez had attended night class and the group was going to get something to eat at the time of the crash.
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"Mia had her whole life ahead of her, in which she was so eager to explore and learn, not only will she be missed terribly by us, but also by her friends who were able to get to know her charismatic personality and loving soul,” wrote Rodriguez's family in a statement.
Both females were from the southeast side of Chicago near the Indiana border, the coroner’s office said.
An autopsy Tuesday said that both died of blunt force trauma and ruled their deaths an accident.
Hammond police continue to investigate the crash and no charges have been filed as of Tuesday evening.
Classmates held a moment of silence before Tuesday's volleyball game at George Washington High School and a balloon release is scheduled to take place Wednesday evening.
