A car filled with six teenagers came to a smashing stop into a garage in Columbia County. A 16-year-old boy was killed.

Since the start of classes Wednesday morning, grief counselors have been on hand at Hazleton Area High School as students try to cope with the loss of 16-year-old Steven Geraci.



State police said a 16-year-old
boy was killed and five others
hurt when the car they were in
slammed into this garage.

The junior died when the car he was riding in with five other classmates crashed around 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Investigators are still trying to figure out how the car the teens were in went off a rural road and smashed into a garage.

It happened just over the Luzerne County line along the 1200 block of Scotch Valley Drive near Bloomsburg.

Neighbors said they heard the crash shortly after the rain stop Tuesday evening. While it's still unclear if the wet roads played a factor in the wreck, troopers said speed definitely did.

At Hazleton Area High School, the day was somber from the start. Many students went to class knowing one of their classmates would not be there after his life came to a sudden end.



The vice principal said grief counselors will be on hand for several days to help many of the 3,600 students cope with the loss.

"It's pretty sad actually. Everyone's heart is going out to him I guess," said sophomore Cody Pehala.

As for the other five teens involved in the crash school officials said all were juniors at Hazleton Area High School.

Some were released from the hospital. Others were admitted and are being treated for their injuries. They have been identified as Joseph Puglio, 16, of McAdoo, Tiffany Bellitts, 16, of Treskow, Paul Penkala, 16, of Hazleton, Steven Scatton, 16 of West Hazleton and Erhan Isliam, 16, of Hazleton.



The crash remains under investigation.