3 Dead, 2 Injured In Santa Clarita Rollover Accident

SANTA CLARITA (CBSLA.com) — Three people were killed and two others injured Friday in a rollover accident, authorities said.

The accident occurred about 2 a.m. at Sierra Highway and Rush Canyon in Santa Clarita, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.

A red Chevy Silverado truck, with five passengers inside, had veered off the road and rolled down a hill.

Three people were pronounced dead at the scene, while the two remaining passengers were airlifted to Henry Mayo Hospital and Providence Holy Cross Hospital in unknown conditions.

On Friday afternoon, authorities identified all of the victims and said they were students at John Burroughs High School in Burbank.

KCAL9's Kaj Goldberg said speed and alcohol/drugs could be factors in the crash but that would not be official until toxicology reports were completed.

The deceased were identified as driver Ian Bulbenko, 19; April Townsend, 19 and Jake Gnasso, 19. All hailed from Burbank.

The hospitalized were listed as 19-year-old Burbank resident Zachary Maina and Timothy Gorman, 19, a Sunland resident.

The crash was reported around 7:30 Friday morning. Goldberg reported that one of the victims' called for help on his cell phone after he regained consciousness.

"We were fortunate enough to have one of the parties in the vehicle able to get cell reception and actually be able to make a distress call," said CHP Officer John Lutz

First responders have a tough time reaching for victims because of the steep terrain. The truck was also about 200 feet down an embankment.