Family, classmates grieve over loss of 2 Hunter High students


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WEST VALLEY CITY — It was a somber start to the school day Thursday morning at Hunter High School, the day after two students were killed in a car crash.

Just before classes started, Granite District spokesman Ben Horsley said you could tell some people were struggling.

"A lot of quite whispering, hugging - emotions very much on the surface," he said.

Grief counselors have been talking with students needing a hand. One way many of these students communicate is through social media.

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Some students have said that online there are rumors about why the crash happened. Horsley said when they talk with students, they point out the facts of what they do know and try to move on from there.

Regardless, many students knew Jacob Armijo and Avery Bock, who were killed after Armijo lost control of the car he was driving, and slammed into another car head-on.

At the scene of the accident Wednesday, it was evident this close knit family was torn apart. Amid the tears and confusion, questions about what made Armijo lose control of his car and enter oncoming traffic.

"We do know it was not his fault, but that's all the detectives have told us," said Amy Rasmussen, Armijo's aunt. "We're still waiting to find out where we can get the car and everything. That's all we know, is that someone ran the red light; (Armijo) swerved to miss the SUV, and that's when the accident happened. The other car hit him and spun him."

West Valley Police will not confirm evidence of a car which ran a red light, only saying they are still investigating multiple possibilities which led to the accident.

"He was not upset," Rasmussen said. "His friends had written some stuff on the window of his car ... stuff like "I love you like a brother" or whatever. He wasn't upset about that at all, no. It was him and just some friends that were going to lunch to get a shake."

Friends of the two students said Porter and Cordero were leaving school for lunch when the car they were traveling in collided with another vehicle one block away at the intersection of 4100 South and 5600 West. The driver of their vehicle, 16-year-old Jacob Armijo, and another passenger, 16-year-old Avery Bock, were killed in the accident.

Witnesses say their vehicle, a Civic, swerved and hit a Corolla. Monica Hood, the driver of the Corolla, was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. She was treated and released on Thursday, according to the West Valley Police Department.

"The way I knew for sure is my teacher pulled up a picture of the car and when I saw the blue car, I knew it was my friend's," said Acacia Wilkey.

Wednesday night, students gathered at the high school to remember the victims of the tragedy.

"We all lit our candles and we had a moment of silence and we talked between us - all sharing good memories of the boys," said Casena Marshall, a sophomore at Hunter. West Valley City Mayor Mike Winder also attended wednesday's vigil.

Two students remained hospitalized Thursday with injuries suffered during a Wednesday traffic collision that killed two teen boys from Hunter High School.

Cassidy Porter, 17, and Leticia Cordero, 16, remained in critical condition, according to Intermountain Medical Center spokesman Jess Gomez.

A number of students arrived early before classes began Thursday and were consoling each other when counselors arrived.

"As you entered the school this morning you could kind of sense there was a mood of somberness," Granite School District spokesman Ben Horsley said, adding that grief counseling teams will remain at the high school for as long as necessary.

The cause of the accident was still under investigation Thursday, said West Valley Police Sgt. Mike Powell. At the time of the accident there were unconfirmed reports of a third vehicle that may have contributed to the collision. Powell said police were looking into speed, other vehicles and any incidents at the school that may have influenced Armijo's emotional state.

Accounts have been set up in each of the four students' names through America First Credit Union, Horsley said. Donations can be made at any America First branch and will be used to offset funeral and medial costs.

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