Teens Identified After Fatal Rollover Crash In Stony Creek Metropark
SHELBY TOWNSHIP (WWJ) -- Three teenagers killed in a car crash in Stony Creek Metropark have been identified following the fatal accident on Friday.
There were five young men in the vehicle at the time of the crash. Four of the five passengers were ejected from the vehicle. The front seat passenger was not ejected.
Three of the men were killed in the crash -- Jonathan Manolios, 17, of Sterling Heights, Emanuel Malaj, 17, of Sterling Heights and Michael Wells, 17, of Macomb Township.
Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham told WWJ's Lauren Barthold that only one of the five passengers was wearing a seatbelt.
"Last night, the parents of the three deceased individuals came to the Sheriff's office and we spoke with them -- very, very sad and tragic," Wickersham said.
A black, 2008 Jaguar S-type sedan was driving inside the park when the driver of the vehicle lost control and struck a guardrail. The vehicle overturned and eventually ended up on its side in the Stony Creek Spillway.
Investigators believe speed was a factor in the crash.
The two surviving passengers are both males, both 17-years-old and are from Shelby Township. They were transported to a local hospital and are in critical condition.
Their names are not being released at this time.
Wickersham says that investigators are unsure whether or not alcohol was a factor.
"Being able to talk with the two surviving individuals to try and gather more information is going to be critical to our investigation," Wickersham said.
Meantime, Utica Community Schools is preparing for a difficult week. Manolios and Malaj were students at Stevenson High School, while Wells was a student at Ford.
District spokesperson Tim McAvoy said that they're "working through the weekend" and that grief counselors will be on hand at all four high schools on Monday morning for families, friends, and staff members.
