Student Dies in Crash in Front of West Hills High School
Ryan Willweber, a 17-year-old West Hills High School student, died from injuries suffered in a crash in front of the campus on April 30, 2015
By Monica Garske, Wendy Fry and Andie Adams ••
A student died after he was involved in a crash in front of West Hills High School. NBC 7’s Wendy Fry reports.
A 17-year-old student died and two others were injured in a collision in front of Santee's West Hills High School Thursday afternoon, officials confirmed.
At around 12:50 p.m., s a Taurus sedan tried to make a left-hand turn off of the campus onto westbound Mast Boulevard, a gold Ford Explorer traveling eastbound struck the sedan, said Santee Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim Stuber.
Monica Garske
The new traffic light installed on Mast Boulevard in front of West Hills High School was operating on Sept. 22, 2015.
Monica Garske
Progress on the new traffic light installed in front of West Hills High School in Santee, as seen on Sept. 10, 2015. The signal on busy Mast Boulevard should be running by the end of the month.
Mark Sackett, NBC 7
A cross has been placed at the scene of a fatal collision outside West Hills HS.
NBC 7 San Diego
The scene of the crash near West Hills High School on Mast Boulevard in Santee on April 30, 2015.
NBC 7 San Diego
Three people were injured in a three-car crash in front of West Hills High School in Santee on April 30, 2015.
NBC 7 San Diego
Three people were injured in a three-car crash in front of West Hills High School in Santee on April 30, 2015.
NBC 7 San Diego
Three people were injured in a three-car crash in front of West Hills High School in Santee on April 30, 2015.
NBC 7 San Diego
NBC 7 San Diego
The aftermath of the crash.
NBC 7 San Diego
West Hills High School students held a candlelight vigil on April 30, 2015, to remember Ryan Willweber, their peer killed in a crash in front of the school.
NBC 7 San Diego
Hundreds of students paid their respects to peer Ryan Willweber at a candlelight vigil on April 30, 2015. The track athlete was killed in a crash just in front of campus earlier that day.
Chris Chan
The sign in front of West Hills High School read "We Will Miss You Ryan" on May 1, 2015.
NBC 7 San Diego
Ryan Willweber, 17, ran track for West Hills High School and is remembered by his teammates for his uplifting spirit and positive attitude.
Monica Garske
A memorial in front of the high school.
Monica Garske
A memorial in front of the high school.
Monica Garske
A memorial in front of the high school.
Monica Garske
A memorial in front of the high school.
Monica Garske
A memorial for Ryan Willweber in front of the high school.
Heather Culver
Al's Sport Shop in Santee created this Wolf Pack sticker in Ryan's honor after the crash. The store quickly ran out of the free stickers as supporters poured in to pick them up.
Heather Culver
Al's Sport Shop in Santee created this Wolf Pack sticker in Ryan's honor after the crash. The store quickly ran out of the free stickers as supporters poured in to pick them up.
Monica Garske
Progress on the new traffic light installed in front of West Hills High School in Santee, as seen on Sept. 10, 2015. The signal on busy Mast Boulevard should be running by the end of the month.
Monica Garske
Progress on the new traffic light installed in front of West Hills High School in Santee, as seen on Sept. 10, 2015. The signal on busy Mast Boulevard should be running by the end of the month.
Monica Garske
Progress on the new traffic light installed in front of West Hills High School in Santee, as seen on Sept. 10, 2015. The signal on busy Mast Boulevard should be running by the end of the month.
Monica Garske
Progress on the new traffic light installed in front of West Hills High School in Santee, as seen on Sept. 10, 2015. The signal on busy Mast Boulevard should be running by the end of the month.
The cars collided with such force that the sedan backed into another truck waiting to make a turn onto campus. Brothers inside the sedan had to be cut from the vehicle by fire crews. That process took approximately 20 minutes, Stuber said.
One of the students, Ryan Willweber, was airlifted to the hospital, but he died there a short time later.
His brother Cory, another West Hills High student, was taken to Sharp Memorial Hospital for broken bones to his shoulder and face, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.
The Ford driver, who is a West Hills graduate, complained of arm pain and was taken to the hospital for observation. He returned to the scene of the fatal accident later that afternoon, obviously shaken.
The cause of the collision is under investigation. Parts of Mast Boulevard remained closed hours due to the accident.
Later that night, students held a candlelight vigil around the school's flagpole in honor of Ryan Willweber, a track athlete at the school. Hundreds also took to social media to give voice to their grief.
When I found out who it was my jaw dropped. My prayers go out to Ryan, Cory, and the entire Willweber family #RIPRyan#prayforthewillwebers
Many at the school plan to wear blue Friday to remember Ryan.
The school district will also provide grief counseling and other support for West Hill High students.
A student from the high school, who was not involved in the crash, is a fire cadet and his father is a fire captain. That student told NBC 7 he heard the accident and ran to his car to get his first aid response bag. The student then ran to the scene and began performing the initial first-response on the victims alongside a school nurse until medics arrived.
West Hills High School sophomore Jonathan Hefty said he also witnessed the crash and ran over to help.
“[It sounded like] just the loudest brakes you’ve ever heard crash,” he recalled. “I was one of the first to run up. Checking it out, we saw – it didn’t look too good.”
