[KHTS] – A 15-year-old Canyon High School sophomore remains hospitalized in critical condition following a single-car crash near the Cross Valley Connector on Saturday night, a Hart district official said Monday.
Shortly after 10 p.m., a Honda Accord with five teenagers inside crashed into a pole while traveling eastbound on Newhall Ranch Road, near Santa Clarita Parkway, according to officials. A second teen hospitalized in the crash is expected to be released from the hospital today.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the girls and families of this accident and we hope for a full recovery for all of them,” said Gail Pinsker, Hart district spokeswoman.
Kelly Watson, a 15-year-old Canyon High School sophomore, is still recovering from emergency brain surgery at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital.
She was one of two high school students seriously hurt when they were ejected from the vehicle Saturday.
Five girls were in the vehicle, four were Canyon High students and one was student of Opportunities For Learning, a William S. Hart Union High School District charter school that operates independently of the district.
The driver is a junior at Canyon High, and the other three Canyon students are sophomores.
Two passengers were ejected from the car, and initial reports indicated the some of the vehicle’s occupants were not wearing their seatbelt.
The identity of the Honda’s driver was not released by Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station officials. Drugs and alcohol were not initially reported as factors in the crash, according to officials.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by deputies with the Traffic Unit of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.
“As of last night, our understanding is that the driver and one other Canyon student and the OFL student are resting at home,” Pinsker said, declining to name the occupants out of respect for the families.
Fire Department officials followed up on two of the patients, which had more severe injuries.
One other Canyon student, believed to be at Holy Cross, is expected to be released today.
All suffered some minor abrasions and injuries, but are no longer requiring hospital care.
Newhall Ranch Road was shut down for several hours following the crash.
The crash came just one week after the beginning of White Ribbon Week, which asks members of Hart district schools’ graduating classes to make a pledge to drive safe.
“The safety of all our students is our No. 1 priority,” Pinsker said.
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91 Comments
Juliann Watson
Juliann Watson
Praying for the family of all the kids hurt in this crash!
Praying for the family of all the kids hurt in this crash!
So sad for Kelly’s family . Praying for her recovery thank god they’re alive .
So sad for Kelly’s family . Praying for her recovery thank god they’re alive .
Bailey Marie..did you hear anything about these kids? How terrible!
Bailey Marie..did you hear anything about these kids? How terrible!
Yes mom it was all over twitter they are all okay. Kelly woke up from coma yesterday
Yes mom it was all over twitter they are all okay. Kelly woke up from coma yesterday
Really sad and close to home since I have a daughter at the same school. They are just too young to drive. They should restrict license to 18 years old. Happy to hear Kelly woke up. Is she going to be ok ?
Really sad and close to home since I have a daughter at the same school. They are just too young to drive. They should restrict license to 18 years old. Happy to hear Kelly woke up. Is she going to be ok ?
A law won’t stop this. It was illegal to have that many teens in the car with a teen driver but that didn’t stop this from happening.
well said Ryan! When our kids leave our home, we have to rely on their choices…for better of worse. I’m just glad there was no alcohol or drugs involved. Praying for a full recovery for everyone, physical and mental!
Law or not it would prevent plenty of unnecessary accidents just like this one. Having a permit for a longer period of time to gain experience with an adult in the car I’m sure would prevent many deaths we hear about in Santa Clarita alone.
^ Yes, and so would having a private police officer walk with you at all times making sure you never miss a step and hurt yourself. “The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.”
:(
:(
Karen Spencer Navarro. Canyon
Karen Spencer Navarro. Canyon
Reminds me of the crash that killed 4 people 14 years ago. Three Canyon students and another driver on Soledad Cyn Rd.
Reminds me of the crash that killed 4 people 14 years ago. Three Canyon students and another driver on Soledad Cyn Rd.
I remember that too. Speed and kids.
Get her OUT of henry mayo asap!!
Get her OUT of henry mayo asap!!
The care my daughter Kelly has received here at Henry Mayo has been nothing short of EXCEPTIONAL! Thank you to all the doctors, nurses and staff that saved my daughters life!
I’ve heard way more positives about Henry Mayo than negatives…no place is perfect
Mayo is a pretty good trauma center. If you really think it’s bad go check out some of the 5 bed ERs in downtown LA
Some of us have had disastrous experiences with HMNH, glad they are taking good care of Kelly!
My mother works at Henry mayo and she an excellent nurse!!
It’s a fantastic hospital!!! I wouldn’t go anywhere else. Their trauma, and Critical Care nurses are the best!
So sad. I pray they all will be ok and recover. I do not think kids should ever be driving other kids in a car. Kids just do not have enough experience and get distracted too easily. I know it was a complete accident. This was a sad and hard lesson learned. I pray they all will recover without permanent injuries and be OK. I wish they would raise the min age to 18 too. I pray Kelly will recover quickly.
The doctors and nurses at Henry Mayo are caring and very professional. Trauma and Critical Care units are excellent.
The doctors and nurses at Henry Mayo are caring and very professional. Trauma and Critical Care units are excellent.
I send my love and prayers to the watson family. Love you guys so much.
She’s at a WONDERFUL HOSPITAL praying for the families (Lancaster ca)
wow, this is EXACTLY like the crash my son had at almost the same age when he was a passenger inside another teenager’s car. Too many people in the car and not enough seatbelts (my son was in the middle back seat with no seatbelt), the girl driving was going too fast and they crashed into a pole, sending my son flying into the rear view mirror, knocking him unconscious with a gaping gash in his forehead. He got lucky and was okay after a trip to the ER and some stitches. Praying for the family.
Wear your damn seatbelts kids! Jesus, be smart
It is illegal for a teen driver to have other teens in the car. They need to be driving for a whole year or turn 18 whatever happens first. As parents we need to teach our kids to respect the law! I’m not happy about teens driving at 16 either, will love it to be at 18.
Can’t believe that pole jumped right out in front of them.
This is not some sort of joke and no time for smart asses to
Make stupid comments.
Not funny
Not funny
TOTALLY funny.
TOTALLY funny.
Some people need to get a life! Seriously…,
Some people need to get a life! Seriously…,
@sandra Flynn-leonidov. I respect your opinion as well as your right to have one. That said – even an average driver at average speeds should be able to navigate such a well lit and brand new stretch of road easily.
The fact that these juvenile delinquents hit an inanimate object tells me they were likely speeding and (even before you account for not wearing seatbelts) even more likely acting wrecklessly. I am grateful I wasn’t involved in the accident, nor were any of my family members. Had that been the case, I would most certainly be calling for an investigation and arrest of the driver, as well as a citation issued to each of the passengers.
The laws of physics have no mercy, and hopefully these kids will think twice the next time they get behind the wheel.
But I doubt it.
@sandra Flynn-leonidov. I respect your opinion as well as your right to have one. That said – even an average driver at average speeds should be able to navigate such a well lit and brand new stretch of road easily.
The fact that these juvenile delinquents hit an inanimate object tells me they were likely speeding and (even before you account for not wearing seatbelts) even more likely acting wrecklessly. I am grateful I wasn’t involved in the accident, nor were any of my family members. Had that been the case, I would most certainly be calling for an investigation and arrest of the driver, as well as a citation issued to each of the passengers.
The laws of physics have no mercy, and hopefully these kids will think twice the next time they get behind the wheel.
But I doubt it.
I’m glad that some people never made stupid and or costly mistakes when they were young. There, but for the grace of a God, go I.
Stupid – sure.
Blatant ejection of friends across a well-lit roadway…not so much. Takes a special case of affluenza to make that leap.
The part I find offensive is that there is a girl in the hospital with a brain injury and that…. Is not funny. That’s all!
Here’s the bottom line!!! You don’t know ANY of these girls or the situation. You only know what you are reading in this article. This girl happens to be friends with my son. Until you have raised a teenager you need to keep your mouth shut. These girls couldn’t be further from juvenile delinquents and if you knew them you would know that. These statements are pretty harsh coming from a guy who understands first hand what it’s like to loose a child, so much for being a Christian. BTW aren’t you the same person who was in the paper for being detained by the police during a fire. Just checking…
Are you kidding me Anthony???? Obviously certain things should not have happend but the fact that you are taking your time to be heartless just disgusts me!!!! A young girls life is on the line here!!!
Leslie Mitchin Ramirez Again – you’re welcome to an opinion. I don’t need to know any of the girls to tell what is obvious – they struck an inanimate object in the middle of a road that is both well lit and well maintained. That equals only one thing – absolute wrecklessness. Why were they ejected? Simple physics will tell you they weren’t wearing a seatbelt.
Lastly – to bring something up that (a) happened four years ago, (b) resulted in no injury and (c) no charges being filed because it was a case of mistaken identity really tells me how you think (or don’t). Yes – I know how frail life is. That’s why I find it nauseating that it is treated so cavalierly by not only kids – but by parents that are obsessed with keeping up with the Joneses rather than raising young men and women of character.
A 16 year old driver is not that different than a 18yr. old driver and would be no different if that 18yr. old were a brand new driver. It is best for kids to get driving expierence while still living with mom and dad than be brand new drivers off at college in different towns or states. Accidents happen, no one plans one. Pray everyone will be okay and lessons learned.
I was trying to think of how to say that but you got to it first and nailed it. I totally agree.
Illegal, too many people in the car, not enough seatbelts, not enough experience, let’s focus on the kids that were hurt and praying for them and their families. This was an accident and thankfully no one was killed! Think back to when you were that age!! We weren’t required to wear seatbelts, we rode in the back of pick-up trucks, had all of our friends in the car and we got our license at 16. Don’t judge these teens cause most of us were doing the same if not worse at that age!! My thoughts and prayers go out to all the families and kids that were involved in this terrible accident.
You are absolutely correct and thank you for this comment to maybe correct some parents way to quick to judge and not focus on the importance of the matter and that is the girls involved!
Then was then and this is now. Now we have all of these signs telling you to “click it or ticket” (one of which I pass driving home every day), we have (had? I think they still run) PSAs on TV showing what happens if you’re caught without a seatbelt. Not to mention this happened after a WEEK of the school informing students about why seatbelts are important. There is more knowledge about these things, just like there’s more knowledge on what a cigarette does to you, and people still choose to smoke them.
I’m going to judge them on their poor decisions, teenagers or not. I know and have known teenagers that are perfectly capable of following the law. At this point, people are just choosing to be ignorant, and that’s what will get them killed.
I wish them a speedy recovery from this, but personally, that’s not going to stop me from judging.
Prayers to all… And the families during this hard time.
Steven Gentry that crash your talking about was my friends too… it was horrible and lost some great guys . Children think its fun and games to drive and its not. My prayers go to the family
The driver has had her license for over a year and was not breaking any laws by driving these girls. There were plenty of seat belts as well.
We all survived driving when we turned 16. It’s a matter of teaching these kids that they are not invincible, that accidents can, and will, happen. They need to be responsible passengers as well as responsible drivers, not afraid to speak up if they feel that things are getting out of control in a 2,000 pound vehicle. I am glad to hear that the kids will be ok.
I am praying for Kelly. She is a bright, beautiful young lady who deserves the best treatment. I pray sheaves a full recovery.
I’m work at Henry mayo hospital too and I think I’s a good hospital .my prayes for the family. GOD HAVE EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL.
JULIANN –
THE LORD HAS AWAKENED HER! HE IS SO GOOD. HE GUIDED THE DOCTORS AND IS PULLING HER THROUGH. HE HAS PLANS FOR HER! I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU ALL! WE WILL BE THERE FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR SO OUR FAMILY CAN ALL BE TOGETHER!
What teen or for that matter young adult follows common sense? My Daughter didn’t even attempt to get her licence until she was out of High School and when I drive with her I just have to close my eyes. They do not want to listen to the advice you give them or when you correct them when or even after they are driving. Some people just use poor judgment and it isn’t always teens or young adults. I have 30 year old nephews who still use poor judgment and my 50 year old sister uses poor judgment in everything she does. So its not age, these girls were lucky they came out of this ok. It could have been much MUCH worse. I always say some people can learn only by self example now they have learned the value of listening to their loved ones.
Prayers for her.
Hope everyone gets well soon.
Friends of my daughters…so sad
Only God can determine if they live or die. It’s in gods hands
I was the first person to Kelly at the crash site and spent the time talking to her and keeping her still until the Fire Depatment arrived. I am so happy to hear she is awake from the coma! I know she has a long road ahead of her, but thankfully she still has her life!
Dumb asses !!!!
Dumb asses !!!!
Seriously Juan and everyone else who wants to leave comments, think before you speak. There are family and friends that need positive support. Maybe mistakes were made. We all learn from our mistakes and the mistakes of others. My daughter is in the room with Kelly at this very minute. She is hurting so much. Keep the negative away. If an accident happened to your friends or family, would you want to see comments like this? I will pray for your ignorance tonight while I am praying for the Watson’s, my daughter and her friends.
Leslie Mitchin Ramirez
Stephanie Tuma Mertens
I will be praying for you ignorant people AFTER I pray for my daughters best friend and her family. My daughter is in with Kelly right now. This is very sad and unfortunate. Everyone learns from mistakes of others and themselves. Give positive support or shut your your mouth. I guess I will also pray that something like this doesn’t hsppen to you and your family, so these comments won’t be blogged on your article.
Anthony Fierro I was going to pray for your ignorance, but I am having to think twice now. I/We personally know these girls. My daughter is in the room with her friend right now crying and praying for her. You only know what you have read or heard wrongly through ignorant people like yourself. There are people suffering physically and emotionally right now, and you want to sit on social media blogging about girls who you think are juvenile delinquents. Stop already…
I think we finally got rid of the ignorance- so now we can all get back to the reason we were here in the first place- to pray for Kelly! We are all pulling for you!!
Praying for Kelly for a full recovery! Praying for all the girls and families involved!
Praying for the kids and the families. All parents please talk to your children so they will know the importance of safe driving for them and the other drivers too.
Praying for all involved
Hugs and prayers hoping fir a speedy recovery
God be with us all a teen a baby has been hert no matter whos to blame just be happy they are ok
Praying for all involved
Seems every similar incident involves unsupervised minors out AFTER CURFEW. Where are the parents? (sigh)
People drive at freeway speeds on that road. LOWER THE SPEED LIMIT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED
Could of been any of our teenagers..except you r not allowed to have passengers in your car I u r under 18… Or they are over 18. Thank God they are alive.Why all the negative remarks when tragedy strikes ?
A Honda Accord fits 5 people, so there were NOT too many kids in the car.
If the passengers weren’t wearing seat-belts it is still the responsibility of the driver. Okay, this was a mistake but the driver and passengers are paying for this mistake, don’t you think? Young kids are hurt people, no need to have ill feeling about them.
A Junior could be 17 years of age near the end of the school year, so before anyone jumps to conclusions, they may have been completely in compliance with California law. A provisional license obtained between 16 and 18 has a restriction of carrying passengers under the age of 25, for 12 months. If the driver had a license at 16, he/she has had it for 12 months.
All you opinionated people out there, judging these kids without knowing them is wrong. Just because it was in the paper you are able to read it. Are all your mistakes in the public newspaper or are you all perfect?
The speed limit is 50 or 55 mph on that road. Many roads in Santa Clarita have speed limits that are not safe. These are not always in the City’s control, such as Whites Canyon. This is a LA County controlled posted speed limit. Many have died on these high mph streets. MANY! I thank God that these kids didn’t die in the accident.