Four people lost their lives early Wednesday morning when a stolen vehicle crashed into two trees, authorities confirmed. Among the victims, three have been identified as teenagers: 18-year-old Eddy Deandre Bonner, 14-year-old Kalise McGee, and 14-year-old Tamera Davis, according to the medical examiner. Police are still working to identify the fourth individual.
During a press conference, Cleveland Police Chief Annie Todd expressed the devastating nature of the accident. “This is an absolute tragedy to have four young people killed in this type of tragic accident,” she said.
The fatal crash occurred around 12:30 a.m. on West 106th Street near Madison Avenue. According to police, a stolen 2014 Hyundai Sonata was traveling at high speed when it veered off the road and struck two trees. The impact tore the vehicle apart, ejecting three of the occupants. All four were pronounced dead at the scene. Debris from the wreckage was scattered across multiple yards in the neighborhood.
Kenneth Boyle, a resident on the street, reviewed footage from his home surveillance system and shared his account with investigators. “I heard a car coming flying down the street, and next thing I know, I hear it hit a tree or something,” Boyle recalled. Investigators asked if he had heard any screams. “No, they didn’t. They didn’t suffer—they was dead on impact,” he said.
Authorities confirmed the Hyundai had been reported stolen on February 27 from a residence on Wichita Avenue in Cleveland’s Old Brooklyn neighborhood. The owner had last seen the car in the morning, only to find it missing later in the day. It remains unclear how the vehicle was taken.
Surveillance footage from the city’s Real Time Crime Center showed the stolen car moving through different parts of Cleveland prior to the crash. “It looked like it had just been driving around throughout the evening,” Todd said. She added that there was no indication of another vehicle pursuing the Hyundai at the time of the accident.
Todd also highlighted the dangers of reckless driving, especially in stolen vehicles. “When you look at a tragedy like this, vehicles aren’t toys. This is not—it’s dangerous, the capabilities they have,” she said. “It appears it could have been a minor overcorrection that caused the accident. You mix an inexperienced driver with high speeds, and of course, it’s also a stolen vehicle.”
West 106th Street has a posted speed limit of 25 mph, but Boyle noted that many drivers disregard it. “The street, it happens all the time. We call this Indianapolis 500,” he said. However, witnessing the aftermath of this particular crash was especially difficult. “It’s hard to see, especially when they’re young kids. I don’t know what’s happening with this world nowadays, especially stealing these Kia’s and stuff, and going out and all of a sudden wrecking ’em,” he said.
Authorities faced challenges in contacting the victims’ families, as none of the occupants had identification on them at the time of the crash. Police continue to investigate the incident, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.