A tragic multi-vehicle crash in Pompano Beach on Friday night has claimed the life of a 16-year-old student from St. Thomas Aquinas High School and left several of his classmates hospitalized, according to officials with the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO).
The fatal collision occurred just before 8 p.m. in the 200 block of West Copans Road and has prompted an active investigation by BSO’s Traffic Homicide Unit. Preliminary reports from BSO reveal that the crash involved a 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250, which was being driven westbound by the 16-year-old boy.
As the vehicle approached the intersection of West Copans Road and Leisure Boulevard, it collided with a 2021 Toyota Sienna driven by an 82-year-old man traveling southbound on Leisure Boulevard.
Authorities said the Toyota attempted a left turn in front of the oncoming Mercedes, causing the vehicles to collide. The impact of the crash caused the Mercedes to overturn onto its roof.
The car then skidded across the roadway into the path of eastbound traffic, where it was struck by a 2015 Lexus RX 350. Debris from the violent crash also hit a 2021 Toyota RAV4 traveling eastbound nearby.
Deputies from BSO were among the first on the scene and immediately began administering life-saving measures before the arrival of Pompano Beach Fire Rescue. All occupants of the Mercedes and Lexus were rushed to nearby hospitals.
Tragically, the 16-year-old driver of the Mercedes was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The Mercedes was carrying four additional passengers, all of whom survived the crash.
They have been identified only as a 17-year-old female and three 17-year-old males. Due to Marsy’s Law, which protects the identities of crime victims and those involved in certain criminal investigations, their names have not been released.
All five teenagers were students at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, a prominent Catholic school in Fort Lauderdale. Neither the driver of the Toyota Sienna nor the driver of the Toyota RAV4 reported injuries. Both adult drivers remained at the scene and are cooperating fully with the investigation.
Their identities, too, are being withheld under the protections afforded by Marsy’s Law. Detectives have indicated that excessive speed may have played a role in the crash, though a full investigation is still underway.
The intersection where the accident occurred was closed for hours as authorities documented the scene and cleared the wreckage. Burn marks and shattered debris could still be seen on the pavement Saturday morning.
The tragic loss has left the community in shock and mourning. St. Thomas Aquinas High School released a brief statement expressing heartbreak over the incident, noting that grief counselors would be available on campus for students and staff affected by the tragedy.
“This is an unimaginable loss for the Aquinas family,” said one school administrator. “Our hearts are with the family of the student who passed and with all the students who were injured. We are praying for their healing — physically and emotionally.”
As of Saturday evening, the name of the deceased teen has not been officially released. Family members are expected to make a public statement in the coming days. In the meantime, friends and classmates have taken to social media to share condolences, memories, and prayers.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone who witnessed the crash or has additional information to come forward. The investigation into the precise circumstances surrounding the crash continues.
