ST. PETERS, Mo. — An investigation is underway after two teenage boys were killed in a crash in St. Peters early Thursday morning.
The crash happened at around 2:40 a.m. at Mid Rivers Mall Drive and Grand Teton Drive. The St. Peters Police Department said officers responded to a single-car crash and found two 16-year-old boys at the scene.
Police said life-saving measures were performed but were unsuccessful. The two teens were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police identified them as Wyatt Manlove and Omarion Thomas. They said both were St. Charles County residents and attended Fort Zumwalt North High School.
Mid Rivers Mall Drive was shut down for an “extended period” Thursday morning while the department’s traffic reconstruction team investigated.
The department is continuing to investigate the crash to determine the cause of death. Police said it is unknown if alcohol or drugs were a factor at this time. Police did say only one of the teens was wearing a seatbelt.
Sgt. Melissa Doss with the St. Peters Police Department said more accidents happen in warmer months due to more people being out and less cautious driving.
"It's really scary for parents when you have a teenager," Doss said. "You give them keys to a car and they are driving a vehicle that can be dangerous to themselves or others. The things we like to emphasize is staying within the speed limit, wearing a seatbelt, and staying within the guidelines of the intermediate driver's license, which restricts when you can drive and how many passengers you can have."
No other information about the crash has been released.
"The Fort Zumwalt community is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of two North High students in a tragic car accident early this morning," the Fort Zumwalt School District said in a Thursday statement. "Out of respect for their families, and in an effort to provide them some privacy, we are not sharing the students’ names at this time."
Crisis Response Team members will be at the high school on Friday from 8 a.m.-noon, and next Monday and Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to provide support, the district said. It also recommended those who need additional support to call the Crisis Hotline at (314) 941-0331.
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