4 HURT, BRIGHTON TEEN DIES AS CAR GOES OUT OF CONTROL
Rocky Mountain News
Thursday, August 13, 1998
Author: Michael O'Keeffe Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer
A Brighton High School student was killed Tuesday when the driver of the car he was riding in lost control and drove off U.S. 85.
Chad Ryan Naylor, 17, of Brighton was pronounced dead at the scene on U.S. 85, about a half-mile north of East 104th Avenue. Three other Brighton High students and a Commerce City teen were injured.
``That's too young to die in a car crash,'' said State Trooper Jim Wolfinbarger.
The driver of the 1990 Ford Escort, Stephanie Lynn Teel, 17, may face criminal charges, Wolfinbarger said.
Teel was driving south on U.S. 85 when she lost control of the Ford. The car hit a street sign, rolled and came to a rest on its roof, Wolfinbarger said. Teel was doing about 60 mph when she lost control in the 65 mph zone, but a witness said she was exceeding the speed limit just before the crash, the patrol said.
Teel was in fair condition, and Brandon Coleman, 18, of Commerce City was in serious condition at University Hospital Wednesday. Brighton High student Anna Leigh Diller, 16, was treated and released from St. Anthony Hospital Central. Kittse Stienke, 17, also of Brighton, was in stable condition at Denver Health Medical Center.
Authorities say alcohol and drugs probably were not involved. Teel and Diller were wearing seat belts, Wolfinbarger said, but the other passengers were not.
In 1995, Brighton High students Becky Hardin and Erin Maksymkow , both 18, were killed when the Lexus they rented for their prom went out of control on East 88th Avenue near Interstate 76.
Wolfinbarger said he discussed the two accidents Wednesday with Brighton High Principal Mike Campbell. The State Patrol may offer driver safety awareness classes this fall at the school.
The Denver Post
Thursday, August 13, 1998
Teens "just being kids' before fatal accident
Witness reports commotion in vehicle
Investigators are looking at whether a teenage driver's passengers distracted her just before her car went out of control and rolled on U.S. 85 in Adams County, killing a 17-year-old Brighton boy. "That is one of the possibilities that we're looking into," Colorado State Patrol spokesman Jim Wolfinbarger said Wednesday.
Killed in the accident at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday was Chad Ryan Naylor, who would have turned 18 later this month.
Naylor and three other teens were passengers in a 1990 Ford Escort driven by Stephanie Lynn Teel, 17, of Brighton, the state patrol said.
The car was headed south on U.S. 85 a half-mile north of East 104th Avenue when it ran off the right side of the road, hit a sign and rolled onto its top, troopers said.
Naylor was dead at the scene. Teel was listed in fair condition Wednesday at University Hospital. Brandon John Coleman, 18, of Commerce City was in serious condition at the same hospital. Kittse Stienke, 17, of Brighton was in stable condition at Denver Health Medical Center. Anna Leigh Diller, 16, of Brighton, who was riding in the front seat next to Teel, was treated and released at Centura Health-St. Anthony Central Hospital.
All but Coleman were students at Brighton High School . Teel and Diller were wearing seat belts. Naylor and the two others in the back seat weren't, according to a patrol report.
A witness told troopers the Escort had speeded past him, and there appeared to be a lot of commotion in the small car, with the occupants "just being kids."
A short time later, the witness saw a cloud of dust as the car ran off the road, Wolfinbarger said.
Troopers estimate the car's speed was 60 mph. The speed limit was 55 mph. Investigators hope to interview the survivors today.
"I think we'll determine a lot more then," Wolfinbarger said.
The teens apparently had left the home of one of the girls about five minutes before the crash. Neither alcohol nor drugs are believed to be involved, authorities said.
