Grief counselors are on hand at Byers High School today, two days after a one-vehicle rollover killed a Strasburg girl who was a sophomore there.
The 15-year-old was killed late Saturday when the car she was driving went out of control just east of Byers.
The Colorado State Patrol identified her as Tonya Dmitruk. She was pronounced dead at the scene by the Arapahoe County coroner.
Dmitruk didn’t have a driver’s license or a permit, Trooper Gilbert Mares said.
Three passengers in the vehicle suffered minor injuries, Mares said. They were treated and released.
They were identified as Alonya Dmitruk, 14, Tonya’s sister; and Katelynn M. Urban, 16, both of Strasburg; and Genevieve A. Redman, 16, of Byers.
The Dmitruk sisters’ family did not return a call seeking comment.
Mares said that only Urban was wearing a seat belt. Mares said the vehicle, a silver 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix, was registered to Urban.
Mares said the Grand Prix was traveling west on Arapahoe County Road 10 just before 11:30 p.m. when it went out of control, became airborne for about 10 feet and went off the right side of the road.
Troopers said the vehicle rolled once before striking a fence pole and rolled a second time, coming to rest on its wheels.
Alcohol and drugs are not suspected as contributing factors, Mares said. He added, however, that speed and driver inexperience are suspected to have contributed to the accident.
State law forbids minors who have their driver’s licenses for less than six months from having passengers younger than 21. The law bans teens licensed for less than a year from carrying more than one passenger younger than 21 without an adult present.
Tonya Dmitruk was prohibited from driving because she had no license, Mares said.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
