Police: Teens attended underage drinking party before deadly accident

WASHINGTON – Police investigating a crash that killed a 15-year-old Olney, Maryland, teen and left two 17-year-olds injured say all three attended a party with underage drinking beforehand.

The 17-year-old driver admitted to investigators at the crash scene he’d been at a party where alcohol was served before the accident that killed Shawn Gangloff, police say.

“When officers responded to the collision scene, they did note an odor of alcohol on the driver,” says Cpl. Rebecca Innocente with Montgomery County police.

Investigators do not know if any of the teens had alcohol or drugs in their systems. They are waiting for tests to return.

“Officers do have reason to believe that all three occupants of the vehicle were at the party,” Innocente says.

Detectives with the Alcohol Initiative section went to the house where the underage party was held, about a mile away from the accident scene, Innocente says.

Those detectives found the party was over, but had been hosted by a teen whose parents were out of country.

“There was evidence of alcohol consumption and limited amount of drug paraphernalia,” Innocente says.

It’s prime time for teen parties, Innocente says, as many celebrate the beginning of school and the return of school sports.

“Parents and teenagers need to have discussions as they always should about the use of alcohol. You know, just sit down and have an honest talk about that,” she suggests.

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