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ROY — A Layton teenager was traveling nearly 100 mph and attempting to commit suicide when she purposely slammed into the back of another vehicle, killing two strangers, police say.

Marilee Patricia Gardner, 16, was charged as an adult in 2nd District Court Friday with two counts of murder, a first-degree felony; failing to stop at the command of an officer, a third-degree felony; and failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving death, a third-degree felony.

Maddison Haan, 20, of West Point, was killed instantly when the Hyundai Accent she was driving was slammed from behind by an SUV driven by Gardner near the intersection of 3500 West and 6000 South in Roy, according to the charging documents.

The passenger in the Hyundai, Tyler Christianson, 19, of Ogden, was taken to McKay-Dee Hospital where he also died from injuries he sustained in the crash at 1:10 a.m. Thursday.

The families of Haan and Christianson gathered Friday evening at North Park in Roy to release balloons in their honor and console one another.

Charging docs detail fatal crash

The speed limit on the road Gardner was traveling is 45 mph. Investigators estimate she was traveling 98 mph.

After the crash, Gardner fled to a nearby grocery store, where she called her father and told him she was just involved in a crash and "might have hurt someone," the charges state.

Late Wednesday, Gardner stole a Chevy Tahoe from her parents' home in Layton, the charges state. She told police she was on her way to meet a 17-year-old friend in Roy and was planning on "purchasing drugs, taking the drugs, and then crashing her mother's car with both of them inside in an attempt to kill themselves," charging documents state.

Related:

2 killed in Roy crash; police arrest teen for investigation of murder A 16-year-old girl was arrested Thursday for investigation of two counts of murder after police say her SUV slammed into the back of another vehicle, killing the two people inside.

She "attempted to disable her parents' home alarm, escaped their home and stole their vehicle with the intent of killing herself and a friend in a suicide pact," the charges state.

Before slamming into Haan and Christianson, a Clinton police officer spotted Gardner driving alone while dragging a plastic garbage can underneath the Tahoe, the charges state. The officer tried to pull the Tahoe over.

That's when Gardner "rapidly accelerated her vehicle and purposely crashed" into the Hyundai "in an attempt to kill herself," the charges state.

Police say Gardner has been reported as a runaway from her Layton home several times in the past. She also has a history of being suicidal and was recently hospitalized for treatment, according to the charges.

Friends and family in mourning

Several of Gardner's neighbors said Friday they were shocked to hear what happened. Some said that they knew the girl had been battling depression and other problems. But all of the neighbors KSL News spoke with had high praise for Gardner's parents, saying they have been trying for some time to help her.

"I'm really sorry for them. It's hard. Marilee has been a nice girl, but she's had some problems and I was hoping she could overcome them. She's a young girl," said neighbor Linda Ashment, who also expressed sympathy for the families of the victims.

Ashment said many people in the neighborhood had tried to help Gardner and her parents, and they thought she was "starting to come back."

Neighbor Angie Murdock, who broke into tears Friday while talking about it, added that the parents have "been trying really hard with her."

"She's just been very unhappy lately, and I'm sad to hear what's been going on," she said.

Memorial balloon release

Mourners at the balloon release Friday described Haan and Christianson as quiet, kind and easygoing. The two friends met while working at Lagoon, where Haan still worked at the time of her death.

"She was quiet and really close to her family," said Alan Collier, Haan's grandfather. "They're a really close family — a devastated family. …She was a very loving, a very special person."

Family and friends of the Haan and Christianson's family lets go of balloons during a vigil in Roy on Friday, July 1, 2016. The vigil was for Tyler Christianson, 19, and Maddison Haan, 20, who died while driving after being hit by Marilee Patricia Gardner, 16, who was going 100 mph and attempting to commit suicide. (Photo: Weston Kenney, Deseret News)

Collier, who lives in Connecticut, flew to Utah soon after receiving the news of his granddaughter's death. He said he is still bewildered by Gardner's alleged actions early Thursday.

"I'm still in shock. It's hard to believe someone would do that," he said. "She really devastated a lot of people."

Haan's uncle, Jason Collier, described his niece as happy, hard working and a "very genuine" person. "She was very quiet when you first got to (know) her," he said, but once you got to know her, she "was the joy of the room, making everybody laugh."

Christianson's girlfriend, Courtney Schantz, said he was good to everyone.

"Every person he met had something to like about him," she said through tears. "He could make you smile. He was always cracking jokes."

Schantz said the circumstances of her boyfriend's death are particularly difficult.

"I just find it cruel that the only person out of three who didn't want to (live) had her life spared," she said.

Schantz and others embraced and comforted each other at the balloon release. She noted that it helped her to be with others who are also grieving.

"With a tragedy like this, you really feel alone," she said. "People come together to try to fill that void."

Lou Micallef, right, the grandfather of Maddison Haan, 20, is embraced by Leota Perkins during a vigil in Roy on Friday, July 1, 2016. The vigil was for Tyler Christianson, 19, and Maddison Haan, 20, who died while driving after being hit by Marilee Patricia Gardner, 16, who was going 100 mph and attempting to commit suicide. (Photo: Weston Kenney, Deseret News)

Marnie Hancock, Christianson's stepmother, said she wanted to make the day about him and his friend and not about how they died. One of Christianson's passions that stands out, she said, was his love of fixing, tinkering with and driving cars.

"He was quiet and had a great sense of humor. … He was special," she said.

Hancock said her family is leaning on each other to get through the aftermath of the sudden loss.

"It's been really hard to wrap your brain around it," she said. "We're still kind of in the shock phase. … We love him and we're going to miss him."

Gardner made an initial bail hearing appearance in 2nd District Juvenile Court Friday morning. At that time, charges had not been filed and the hearing was continued until next Friday.

A $150,000 arrest warrant was issued later that morning by the Weber County Attorney's Office. Police had requested no bail, according to the affidavit. Gardner will reportedly remain in juvenile detention for the time being.

If someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, there are resources to help. Call the UNI Crisis Line at 801-587-3000, the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

Contributing: Ashley Moser, Mike Anderson

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