Jan 22, 2017 2 min read

Smith Township police confirmed speed and alcohol could have been factors in the early Saturday crash that killed one teenager and sent three others to the hospital.

Tyler Austin Bowe, 19, of Burgettstown, was killed in the 12:20 a.m. crash on Ridge Road in Smith, and three of his four passengers were taken to Pittsburgh hospitals.

Police said Nicholas Cook, 18, of Bulger, and Rankin Cody, 19, of Avella, and two Washington 17-year-olds were in the car with Bowe when his car left the road and hit a tree.

The police report said Bowe was driving east and “it appears the driver may have been driving at an unsafe speed” of about 55 mph. Investigating Officer Larry Bonazza added there was fog and the roads were wet that night.

Police said the car left more than 93 feet of skid marks on the road before it struck the tree and went over a 15-foot embankment.

All of the teenagers were trapped inside the vehicle and Bowe died as rescuers were trying to extricate him, police said. The two juveniles were taken to UPMC-Presbyterian hospital and Rankin was taken to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. Their conditions were not available Sunday afternoon.

Police said while it is still unknown if Bowe consumed alcohol, Cook – the only passenger not hospitalized – told police “everyone was drinking.” Cook also told police he “told Bowe to slow down,” the police report said.

Because of the other passengers’ injuries, police were not able to interview them regarding the cause of the crash, though all of them admitted to drinking alcohol, police said.

Police found a whiskey bottle, several full and empty beer cans and a smoking pipe. Police also found a small bag of suspected marijuana in one of the juveniles’ possession.

Washington County coroner’s office is expected to conduct an autopsy and toxicology tests, the police report states.

Multiple fire departments and EMS teams responded to the scene.