Horrific Car Crash Kills 4 Teens

Feb. 12, 2007— -- The driver of a car that crashed into a pole early Sunday morning west of Chicago, killing four teenaged passengers, has already been charged with drunk driving tied to the wreck.

Police in Oswego, Ill., say that Sandra Vazquez, 24, of Aurora, Ill., was drunk when she drove across oncoming traffic and crashed a 2001 Inifinti sedan carrying eight teenagers along Illinois 31.

Five other passengers, including Vazquez, were hospitalized with varying injuries, authorities told the Chicago Tribune.

The four teenagers who died were all pronounced dead at the scene. They were identified by Kendall County deputy coroner Jacquie Marcellis as Jessica Nutoni, 15; Katherine Merkel, 14; Tiffany Urso, 16; and Matthew Frank, 17,

All eight teens attended the same high school in Oswego, a tight-knit community along the Fox River 50 miles west of Chicago.

The Kendall County state's attorney's office is investigating the accident, however, and could pursue additional charges on top of the drunk driving offense.

It remains unclear how the eight teenagers ended up taking a ride with Vazquez or if any of them even knew the woman. Family and friends said the group had gone bowling and that they may have gotten stuck at the bowling alley without a ride.

Information from the Chicago Tribune was used in this report.