Two teenagers lost their lives and another is fighting life-threatening injuries after a Sunday evening crash in South Park. Police said 16-year-old Mario Luis Martinez Herrera (a former Denny student) was killed instantly. Luciana “Lucie” Hernandez, a Denny eighth-grader, died from injuries sustained in the crash at Harborview.

Police said Herrera lost control of his 1990 black Acura on a curve and struck a telephone pole on 8th Ave S. shortly after 8 p.m on Nov. 11.

Here is the letter from Denny Principal Jeff Clark, including information on support for grieving students:

Dear Denny International Middle School families:

On Sunday evening there was a car crash in South Park. Tragically, the driver, Mario Luis Martinez Herrera, a former Denny student, was killed; four other teens were transported to Harborview Medical Center. One additional person died from injuries sustained in the accident at Harborview shortly after arriving.

We were deeply saddened to learn that the teen who passed away at Harborview was a Denny eighth-grader, Luciana “Lucie” Hernandez. Lucie’s older sister, Karla, a ninth-grader at Chief Sealth International High School, was also in the accident and is being treated for very serious injuries at Harborview. Our thoughts and deepest sympathy go out to the family and friends of all three students.

Today at school we had a moment of silence, an eighth-grade class meeting, individual and group grief counseling and a place for interested students to come together at lunch time. Additionally, students had an opportunity to begin to create a tribute which will be displayed at school and then taken to the service to be given to Lucie’s family.

While we are working to support students at school, you know your child better than anyone. You can help your child simply by talking and listening to her or him. If there is anything in particular we can do to support your child, please contact Assistant Principal, Ms. Rangel, at 252-9006 or pjrangel@seattleschools.org.

As a community, we will be developing plans to support the impacted families. Current ideas will be discussed at our Family PTSA meeting tonight at 7:00 pm in the Denny library.

Sincerely,

Jeff Clark, Principal