Dial

Peile

Crash kills two teens, injures one

Black Hills High student lost control of car, struck tree, trooper says

CHESTER ALLEN AND ALMA SHARPE THE OLYMPIAN

TUMWATER -- Two Black Hills High School students were killed and another injured Friday afternoon when their car skidded off Littlerock Road and struck a tree.

Rick Dial, 17, of Tumwater and James Peile, 18, of Olympia died at the scene, said Lt. Bob Johnson of the Washington State Patrol.

Passenger Richard Brown, 18, of Olympia suffered internal injuries and was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Johnson said.

Brown was in critical condition Friday night.

Dial was driving a 1989 Pontiac Firebird south on Littlerock Road when he pulled into the northbound lane to pass another car, Johnson said.

Witnesses reported that the Firebird was traveling at high speed, Johnson said.

Dial then attempted to pull back into the southbound lane, but he lost control of the car, Johnson said.

The car traveled across the northbound lane and struck a tree south of the intersection of Littlerock Road and 83rd Avenue Southwest, Johnson said. The crash occurred at 12:27 p.m.

Dial may have moved back into his lane because another vehicle was ready to turn right from 83rd Avenue to Littlerock Road, Johnson said.

"This is a tragedy," Johnson said.

Black Hills High officials learned of the crash shortly after it happened, and students were notified over the public address system, said Bob Kuehl, director of secondary education for Tumwater schools and former Black Hills High principal.

Counselors from throughout the district went to the campus to offer their services to students and staff, Kuehl said. Counselors also will be available next week, Kuehl said.

Teachers learned details of the crash during a staff meeting after school.

"Students were shaken by this tragedy, and they sought out staff to talk to and start the process of grieving," Kuehl said.

"They were concerned about the injured student and the families."

School officials plan to hold a memorial for the students who died in the crash, Kuehl said, but details will be worked out after talks with the students' families.

For more local stories go to the South Sound section.

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