Las Vegas Now2002: Deadly Accident Involves Five Centennial High School Students

2002: Deadly Accident Involves Five Centennial High School Students

(Aug. 31, 2002) -- Friends and family members continue to hold vigil for the three Centennial High School students who are on life support following a terrible car accident on Friday. The accident claimed the life of the young driver.

The deadly accident happened at Ann Road and Hualapai around 1:30 p.m. when the SUV carrying the five teens slammed into a semi-truck.

Police say the accident was the result of "horsing around" between two friends behind the wheels of separate vehicles. According to police, the truck's driver cleared the intersection, but the 16-year-old Ryan Sneed who was driving the SUV hit a semitrailer.

Sneed, who had recently got his drivers license, died shortly after the accident at University Medical Center. There were four female passengers under the age of 16 in the SUV. Sisters 14-year-old Lauren Ozawa and 15-year-old Jade Ozawa, and 14-year-old Emily McIntyre remain in critical condition. The driver's sister, 15-year-old Samantha Sneed, is in fair condition.

This is the second deadly crash in four months involving a vehicle carrying five Valley high school students. In May, a car carrying five students from Las Vegas High School crashed. Two girls died and another had to have her leg amputated.

Road Safety International Teen Driver Program - This Website addresses the concerns associated with teen driving. It also gives information on a Road Safety On-Board Computer System known as a "black box" that monitors how teens drive.