Ohio State Highway Patrol says three people are dead and two are injured after a single car accident in Licking County.

Ohio State Highway Patrol says three people are dead and two people are injured after a single car accident in Licking County.

According to police, a silver Mitsubishi Diamante carrying five people smashed into a tree and split in two just after 1 PM on Hardscrabble Road, near Alexandria.

All three passengers in the back seat of the vehicle - two females and one male - were partially ejected during the crash and killed. They were not wearing seatbelts.

Police say the victims were, 17-year-old Michael Hoskinson, 15-year-old Chyenne Spurgeon and 15-year-old Linzie Bell

Two occupants in the driver's and passenger seat were injured in the crash, but survived. The driver, 16-year-old Jaylynn Rigio was taken to Nationwide Children's Hospital by a medical helictoper. His front seat passenger, 16-year-old Ashton Cody was taken to Grant Medical Center. Their conditions were not released.

All of the car's occupants were between 15 and 17-years-old.

Investigators say skid marks just before the impact may indicate either the driver applied the brakes or he was traveling so fast he was trying to regain control of the car before it struck the tree.

Police say speed was a factor in the crash.

The Johnstown Monroe School district is making counselors and local clergy available to students and staff Friday morning at the high school. They will be talking to people from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the high school media center.