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Three Teens Dead in Graduation Eve Crash into Tree
FROM THE CHESAPEAKE TODAY
CLARKSBURG, MD. — One of the traditions of a high school graduation was continued late on Tuesday night in Clarksburg, Maryland when three teen football players died after their truck left the roadway and smashed into a tree. The scene of human devastation was so severe, police officers were told to turn off their body cameras to prevent recording images of the two dead teens on the scene which could later be viewed by the public.
Montgomery County Police reported that the driver, Jacob Tyler Dennis, 17, of Barnesville Road in Boyds, Md., was killed at the scene of the crash as was one of his passengers, Patrick Andrew Shifflett, 18, of Charlie Farm Court, in Laytonsville, Md. A second passenger, Cary Maurice Greene, 17, of Muscadine Drive in Clarksburg, Md., was rushed to Suburban Hospital where he died from his injuries received in what has become part of the high school graduation process across America – in spite of the best efforts of parents, community leaders, and law enforcement officials.
…part of the high school graduation process across America – in spite of the best efforts of parents, community leaders, and law enforcement officials.
Police have the deadly triple fatal crash under investigation and have yet to pinpoint alcohol and speed as factors.
A Maryland State Medical Examiner’s autopsy of the driver will include toxicology reports of the driver to determine what amount, if any, of alcohol or drugs, were present in his system when he drove the large 1989 Ford F-250 off of Burnt Hill Road near Kingstead Road at a fast enough speed at 11:36 pm on June 8, 2016, to end his life and those of his passengers.
Jacob Tyler Dennis entered a guilty plea in District Court in Montgomery County on March 25, 2016, to driving a 2010 Lincoln at twice the legal limit
Montgomery County Police reports that the crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information about drug or alcohol use on the part of the three teens or parties they may have attended that evening is asked to call the Collision Reconstruction Unit at 240-773-6620. Callers may remain anonymous.
Pat Shifflett played the offensive line on the second team at Clarksburg High School. The school cancelled various activities set for the next few days and continued with graduation ceremonies at 10 am on June 8, 2016.
Ed Sheahin posted the following on the Clarksburg High School Football Facebook page about Jacob Dennis:
“The US Spirit and tributes to remembering 9/11 were incredible by the Clarksburg community, Blue Brigade, and Coyotes Fans. But I was especially proud of Jacob Dennis, who was the first ever Coyote selected to run out the American flag in pregame. Jacob was selected because of his work ethic in practice. He ended up playing a great deal on defense tonight and held his own against a huge Sherwood offensive line. The wins and losses matter, but years from now It will be the moments of US pride like tonight that will be remembered.”
Mary Guthrie Kanne posted this on Fox 5 Facebook page: “As the mother of a soon to be graduate, this scares the hell out of me and saddens me deeply!! How do we keep our kids safe during their “immortal” phase?
I set up an Uber account for my son and told him I would come pick him up anytime, anywhere, with no consequences, but as we all know, the drink tends to do the thinking for you, once it is in your system. Add to that the testosterone of a teen boy…. Dangerous combination!!
“As the mother of a soon to be graduate, this scares the hell out of me and saddens me deeply!! How do we keep our kids safe during their “immortal” phase? I set up an Uber account for my son and told him I would come pick him up anytime, anywhere, with no consequences, but as we all know, the drink tends to do the thinking for you, once it is in your system. Add to that the testosterone of a teen boy…. Dangerous combination!!
I don’t ever want to know how these families feel, but my heart breaks for them all!”