Angola teens killed in Alabama crash

CHILTON COUNTY, Ala. (WANE) - Four Angola, Ind. high school students were killed in a crash in Alabama on their way back from spring break Saturday. The crash killed a total of five people after a driver crossed the median on I-65 and crashed into the car with the students head-on.

The students' names were confirmed by Indiana State Police as Alexx Bauer, Matthew Roe, Evan Weaver and Matthew Riley Zimmer, all 18 years old.

Alabama state trooper, Cpl. Steve Smith, said the crash happened near the 199.5 mile marker on I-65 around 3 p.m. Saturday. That's about 25 miles north of Montgomery, in Chilton County.

Smith said the four Angola boys were northbound on I-65 in a 2009 Ford Taurus when Niall McNellis, 21, of Troy, AL, crossed into oncoming traffic from the southbound lanes in a 2005 Chrysler and hit them head-on.

According to Alabama news organizations' stories, there was a bad storm at the time, with hail, that could have been a factor in the crash.

According to the Alabama Department of Public Safety, a mother and her three children were also involved in the crash. They were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Trooper Smith said this third car involved was hit as part of a chain reaction to the original crash.

The crash backed up traffic for miles on the interstate highway.

There was a prayer service at the Angola United Methodist Church Sunday evening.

Angola High School issued the following statement on Saturday afternoon: "It is with profound sadness that we announce the loss of four young men who were members of the senior class at Angola High School: Alexx Bauer, Matt Roe, Evan Weaver and Riley Zimmer. They were involved in a tragic auto accident on Saturday, March 26 in Alabama while traveling home from spring break. The Angola High School Crisis Management Team has been meeting today to plan for the needs of students and staff throughout the coming week. Angola High School Principal Steve Grill will hold a press conference Monday, March 28 at 1:00 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of these fine young men."

This story comes to us from our news partner WANE-TV.