A double fatal accident that saw two Clinton-Massie students lose their lives on S.R. 73 is being investigated by the Wilmington Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred Tuesday at approximately 6:07 p.m. on S.R. 73 in Chester Township, Clinton County.

The state patrol said a preliminary investigation revealed that a 2005 Scion Hatchback driven by Rosalinda Mendoza, 18, of Clarksville, was traveling westbound on S.R. 73 near Williams Road when she lost control of her vehicle and drove off the right side of the roadway. Her vehicle then continued back onto the roadway and traveled left of center where it was struck by a 2022 Honda Passport traveling eastbound.

Mendoza and her passenger, Prezzleigh Goldie, 15, of Wilmington, were pronounced deceased at the scene. They were both Clinton-Massie High School students.

The Honda Passport was driven by Alayna Carson, 23, of Harverysburg, and was also occupied by a front passenger, 17-year-old Natalia Guerrero. They were transported to Green Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, the stae patrol said.

Assisting at the crash scene were the Chester Township Fire Department, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office and Clinton County Coroner’s Officer.

The crash remains under investigation.

In response to the tragic accident, Clinton-Massie Superintendent Matt Baker released a statement Wednesday to school district parents: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that I reach out to you today. As many know by now, we tragically lost two Clinton-Massie High School students in a fatal car crash last evening. I cannot begin to tell you the amount of loss and grief we feel for their families, our students and our staff. Both young ladies were well loved by all of those around them. We will miss their smiles. We will miss the fact that they both were advocates for the underdog, supportive of students in need inside and outside of the classroom. We will continue to mourn their loss as we put the pieces back together of those that have been left changed by their influence. Our local support agencies, surrounding districts, and former employees have all shown up today standing at the ready in order to help grieving students and staff. I am continually amazed with this community and the love that can be expressed at a moment’s notice. Thank you to all that lift up a hand to help whenever we are in need.”