COMSTOCK TOWNSHIP (WKZO-AM/FM) — The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office has released the names of the five of the youngsters who were killed in a fiery crash in Comstock Township early Saturday.
The name of the woman that had not been made public is 16-year-old Elexus Hillsman. Two others, 15-year-old Marshawn Williams and 17-year-old Deztanee Cobb, were identified through dental records.
DNA tests were used to identify Hillsman, 15-year-old Jaquarius Hegler and 16-year-old Cortavian Murphy, the teenager said to be behind the wheel.
All were burned beyond recognition when their Dodge Charger went out of control at high speed on East Main Street, struck a tree and burst into flames.
Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller is also knocking down some claims being made on social media that he says aren’t true. Mayor Bobby Hopewell and several other city and county commissioners expressed their disappointment at some of the comments being made online about culpability for the deaths. They are all expressing their sympathies for the families.
A community memorial service is planned for Wednesday evening at Mount Zion Church at 6:30 p.m. A number of clergy will be in attendance.
