Overland Park car accident kills 1 teen, injures 2

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - A high school community in Johnson County is in shock after a car crash took the life of a classmate.

Nate Trinkle, 17, would have been a senior this fall at Olathe East High School. He died Saturday night in Overland Park.

Witnesses told Overland Park police the vehicle Trinkle was riding in, was swerving as it drove westbound on 143rd Street west of Quivira. Police said witnesses saw a person hanging out the passenger side window before it hit a tree and a guardrail.

Police said Trinkle was dead when they arrived. Two 17-year-old girls inside the vehicle were treated for minor injuries.

Authorities have not said if charges will be filed. A cause of the crash has not been released.

Less than 24 hours after Trinkle's death, hundreds gathered on the football field at Olathe East for a candlelight vigil.

Friends said Trinkle was a dedicated member of the football team. Teammate Zach Mulhall said Trinkle had been working hard in the off-season to overcome an injury and take the field his senior season.

"He was the most hard-working, determined person on our team. He worked all off-season and he wanted it as much as everyone else did," said Mulhall. "It's going to be a big loss without him on our team this year."

Crisis counselors will be available for students at Olathe East on Monday.