2 teens found dead in vehicle submerged in creek near Denton, authorities say
The bodies of two teenagers who were reported missing Tuesday night have been found in a vehicle submerged in a Denton creek, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The Denton Police Department and DPS were sent at around 8 a.m. to the intersection of Hickory Creek Road and Country Club Road. There, they discovered an overturned 2002 Volkswagen Golf car. Both the driver and passenger were found dead.
The preliminary report indicates the car was traveling east on Hickory Creek Road when, for an as yet undetermined reason, the vehicle left the roadway, went over an embankment and landed upside down in Hickory Creek, Lt. Lonny Haschel of DPS said.
Officials with the Denton Fire Department told CBS-11 that there’s a sharp curve in the road that has been a factor in several deaths. They believe the curve along with the lack of guardrails and lights make the area dangerous for drivers, CBS reported.
The Guyger High School PTSA confirmed on Facebook that the driver, Diego Rivera, 17, was a member of their 2019 class. His younger brother and passenger, Daniel Rivera, 14, was an eighth grader at Calhoun Middle School.
“Diego had a lasting impact on many students and staff during his time at Guyer, especially as a member of our soccer team,” Principal Shaun Perry said in a statement. “The loss will be difficult for all of us to cope with, but know that our teachers and staff will work with our students to get through this tough, emotional time together.”
Daniel played football as a defensive lineman and “always looked up to his big brother,” according to family.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help with their funeral expenses. It can be found here.
The crash is still under investigation.
This story was originally published January 9, 2019 at 11:10 AM.
