UPDATE: Teen Fatality Identified in Traffic Accident

March 14, 2007:
The Lakewood police department has identified a 17-year-old female, who died in an accident that occurred last evening in the area of West Alameda Pkwy & West Utah Avenue, as Samara Stricklen.

At about 8:30 pm, agents responded to the accident scene and determined that a head-on collision had occurred between an SUV driven by a 16-year-old female with three passengers and a sedan occupied by a male driver and a female passenger.

All parties were transported to area hospitals and treated for a variety of injuries. Stricklen who had been the passenger in the sedan was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The investigation will continue in an effort to determine the exact cause of the accident. Investigators must wait for tests results before making a determination as to whether drugs and/or alcohol were a factor in the accident.

The 16-year-old female driver of the SUV faces a potential charge of vehicular homicide as well as additional charges that may result from the on-going investigation. The final determination of charges will be made by the district attorney's office.

Earlier news items follow

March 14, 2007:
The Lakewood police department is investigating a fatality accident that occurred last evening in the area of West Alameda Pkwy. & West Utah Avenue.

At about 8:30pm, agents responded to the accident scene and determined that a head-on collision had occurred between an SUV driven by a 16-year-old female with three passengers and a sedan occupied by a male driver and a female passenger.

All parties were transported to area hospitals and treated for a variety of injuries. The 17-year-old female passenger of the sedan was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The investigation will continue in an effort to determine the exact cause of the accident. Investigators must wait for tests results before making a determination as to whether drugs and/or alcohol were a factor in the accident.

The identity of the female who died has not been released pending the notification of relatives by the Jefferson County Coroner's Office. Most of the remaining parties are juveniles and therefore will not be identified.

The 16-year-old female driver of the SUV faces a potential charge of vehicular homicide as well as additional charges that may result from the on-going investigation. The final determination of charges will be made by the district attorney's office.