LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -
It's been 10 years since the tragic deaths of two teenagers in one of the most horrific accidents in southern Nevada's history.
On Tuesday night, friends gathered on the eve of the anniversary to remember the Las Vegas High School students who never made it back to class.
It was a crash that hit the community hard. Even after a decade, the pain remains.
Ten years ago, Daisy Gomez was riding back to Las Vegas High School, near Sahara Avenue and Sloan Lane, when she saw tragedy unfold before her.
"There were just ambulances, cops and just craziness happening," she recalled.
Five teenage girls were on a lunch break when their car got out of control, breaking apart after hitting a light pole. Natasha Keeter died at the scene. Ashley Troester died few days later.
"The one thing that sticks out in my mind is the left-rear passenger - the bloody screams she was doing while they were trying to rescue her," said Metro Detective Bill Redfairn.
Several of Keeter's friends gathered Tuesday night at the high school where they once shared laughs. Though life has moved on for them, the pain is still fresh.
"It just feels like it just happened. I don't think it's an experience that I'm ever going to forget," said friend Priscila Castillo.
"(Everything) can change in the blink of an eye," added another friend, Amanda Herrera.
The concept of things changing in an instant is what led Redfairn and Metro to use this crash as a teaching tool for schools nationwide.
AAA has released a new study which shows the chance of a deadly crash quadruples when teens carry three or more young passengers. It's a statistic those who gathered Tuesday night know all too well.
"One wrong move can change the lives of so many people," Castillo said.
On Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., friends will be meeting at the site of the deadly crash to mark the 10-year anniversary.
According to the Safe Community Partnership, seven teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 have died behind the wheel or as passengers in Clark County so far this year.
Copyright 2012 KVVU (KVVU Broadcasting Corporation). All rights reserved.
