Marin County, CA – On the evening of Friday, April 18, 2025, a single-vehicle collision caused fatal injuries to four teenagers and left two others critically injured, according to Bay City News.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reports that the accident took place around 7:30 PM on westbound San Geronimo Valley Road, south of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard near Woodacre.
The vehicle, carrying six teenage passengers, veered off the road and crashed into a tree before catching fire. Emergency responders arrived to find three passengers deceased at the scene. A fourth victim later died at a nearby hospital due to injuries sustained in the crash. The two surviving passengers, identified as Elsa Laremont Stranczek and Marley Barclay, were hospitalized in critical condition.
On Tuesday, April 22, Barclay was released from the hospital. Her family shared a video of her release online, and their attorney stated that the family is mourning alongside the community and holding the other victims in their thoughts.
The deceased were identified by the Tamalpais Union High School District as ninth grader Olive Koren and tenth graders Josalynn Osborn, Sienna Katz, and Ada Kepley. All six teenagers were students at Archie Williams High School in San Anselmo.
District officials said that grief counseling and other support services are being made available to students and staff in response to the tragedy. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. CHP is examining all potential factors, including vehicle speed, mechanical failure, and possible driver distraction or impairment.
Single-Vehicle Collisions
In some cases, investigations may reveal that even in a single-vehicle accident, nearby drivers or unsafe road features share some responsibility. California’s Comparative Negligence rule means that, even if those injured in accidents are found partially at fault, they may still be eligible to receive partial compensation for damages.
Passenger Liability
Driver liability insurance covers both those outside the vehicle and passengers inside. While it can be emotionally difficult to file a Personal Injury claim against someone close to the victim, the financial challenges after an accident can be overwhelming.
A skilled personal injury attorney can help families pursue proper compensation for their loss by handling these legal complexities and negotiating with insurance companies, who always try to reduce payouts on claims they cannot deny.
