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3 Seneca Valley teens die in crash

ZELIENOPLE — Authorities early this morning found the bodies of three teenagers at the Zelienople-Harmony Sportsmens Club Lake off Ben Venue Road.

Although the names weren't released this morning, Zelienople police confirmed the three teens attended Seneca Valley High School. One was 17 years old and the other two were 18.

Divers from the Beaver Falls Fire Department searched the lake this morning before finding the third teen, who police believe was thrown from the vehicle. Three divers were underwater using flashlights with another six on shore tethering a line.

The black Ford Explorer was found upside down about 40 feet from the road, in 5 feet of water.

The vehicle appears to have slid sideways off the icy and snow-covered road, said Zelienople Police Chief Jim Miller.

It appeared to have hit a tree, causing the vehicle to flip before going down the embankment.

The victims' parents reported them missing about 1:30 a.m. after they missed a Zelienople Volunteer Fire Department meeting Tuesday evening. Authorities in Beaver County reportedly found the vehicle about 3:30 a.m.

Police found the vehicle after Verizon pinpointed the location of the victims' cell phones.

Two of the teens were volunteer firefighters. The third was a junior firefighter.

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