Western Hills senior killed in crash

A prayer vigil will be held Friday for a Western Hills High School student killed Thursday afternoon in a three-vehicle wreck in Benbrook, according to police and the victim’s classmates.

The student, identified in social media as a senior, was on her lunch break when Benbrook police and firefighters responded to a 911 call at 1:48 p.m. about a collision on Benbrook Boulevard near Lochness Lane.

The student identified as Espiranza Contreras, 17, by officials with the Tarrant County medical examiner’s office was pronounced dead at the scene, police officer Sandy Eubanks said.

Three people were taken to area hospitals. Their conditions could not be learned.

The Western Hills lunch break is from 1:01 p.m. to 1:48 p.m., according to classmates. Class resumes at 1:52 p.m.

Late Thursday, a few students were organizing a prayer vigil for 8 a.m. Friday at the school’s soccer field.

Counselors were available for the students by the end of the day Thursday.

Eubanks said that three vehicles were involved but one did not collide with the other two. He couldn’t say whether that vehicle caused the crash.

“Until the investigation is complete, I won't be able to comment on the causative factors,” Eubanks said.

The road reopened at 5:15 p.m.

“We are devastated and our thoughts and prayers go out to all of the families involved,” interim Superintendent Patricia Linares said Thursday afternoon. — Monica S. Nagy

This story was originally published December 11, 2014 at 6:41 PM with the headline "Western Hills senior killed in crash."