Prayers Up! 3 Euclid High School Students Killed In Weekend Car Crash

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Police officers estimated the car that crashed and killed three teenagers Saturday sped past them driving at least 80 mph shortly before it crashed, according to police reports.

The driver, Kareem Walton, 20, told police he thought he was driving about 40 mph in a 25 zone on the way to taking five people to a party for a man who had recently been released from prison, according to police reports.

Walton remains in University Hospitals after suffering collapsed lungs, and fractures to his shoulder, neck and back, police reports say.

He will be arrested on charges of aggravated vehicular homicide, aggravated vehicular assault and intoxicated driving once he’s released from the hospital, police said.

Walton told police that he drank a little bit of alcohol earlier in the day. He is suspected of being under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time of the crash, according to police reports. 

Three teens — Alexandria Winegarner, Takia Jackson and Daija Wynne, all 17 of Euclid — died in the crash. Two other teenagers suffered severe head injuries in the crash, police said. They have not been identified by police. 

Alexandria and Daija were good friends and both just finished their junior year at Euclid High School, according to family members.

The crash happened about 12:05 a.m. Saturday on Kirby Avenue near Hazeldell Drive.

Officers on patrol said Walton’s 2006 Pontiac G6 whizzed by their cruiser westbound on Kirby at a speed somewhere between 80 and 85 mph, police reports say. The officer reported having to swerve out of the way to avoid being hit.