Updated Jan. 14: Welling's passengers were not all teenagers as originally reported: They are 17, 19 and 21. Please see CHP Identifies Survivors in Fatal Napa County Crash.
Earlier:
An American Canyon teen was killed when his car slammed into a tree on a rural east Napa County road early this morning.
The collision injured three other passengers, one critically.
Tucker Welling, 18, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, California Highway Patrol Officer G. Garcia said.
About 1:35 a.m., Welling was driving a 2012 or 2013 Chevy Impala on Wild Horse Valley Road when he lost control, struck a fence and plowed into a tree, splitting the Impala in two, Garcia said.
Wellings' three passengers, all American Canyon residents, were taken by ambulance to Queen of the Valley Medical Center.
One of the victims was then airlifted to U.C. Davis Medical Center, in critical condition, Garcia said.
The names of the three passengers have not been released pending notification of the next of kin, he said.
As of this time, investigators do not know if alcohol or drugs played a part in the fatality, Garcia said.
“We suspect speed could be a factor,” he said.
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