Year later: Ridgefield remembers teens who died in crash

By KATU News Published: Aug 10, 2010 at 11:35 AM PST Last Updated: Aug 10, 2010 at 2:24 PM PST
Year later: Ridgefield remembers teens who died in crash
From left - Aja Gerrity, Amanda Williams, Richard Araiza and Jason Carter. All four were killed in the crash.

RIDGEFIELD, Wash. – Tuesday marked a somber anniversary in Ridgefield, Wash.

It has been one year since four recent graduates of Ridgefield High School died in a crash on Highway 30 near Clatskanie, Ore.

The crash killed driver Aja Gerrity, and passengers Richard Araiza, Jason Carter and Amanda Williams. Dustin Leitzell was hospitalized in critical condition.

The five friends were in an SUV headed toward the coast on Highway 30 near Clatskanie on Aug. 10, 2009, when they passed another vehicle and skidded sideways into oncoming traffic. A van then slammed into their SUV.

The Oregon State Police said crash investigators determined none of the three boys who were sitting in the back seat of that SUV were wearing seat belts.

A celebration of their lives will be held 7 p.m. Tuesday at Discovery Pointe Church in Ridgefield. It will include a speech by Leitzell, the sole survivor of the accident.