Emmaus high school in the Lehigh Valley is offering counseling to its students after one of their classmates was killed in a car crash. The crash occurred Tuesday afternoon, a 16-year-old passenger passed away and police are still investigating what caused the crash.
A Lehigh Valley teenager died in a two-car crash involving high schoolers Tuesday afternoon, according to officials.
The 16-year-old -- later identified as Allentown's Edwin Cortes -- was riding as the back seat passenger in a car when the crash happened just before 3 p.m. on Halloween, Lehigh County Coroner Dan Buglio said in a statement.
Buglio ruled Cortes' death accidental and the cause of death blunt force trauma to the torso from the crash.
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Several other people were hurt, according to authorities.
The two cars crashed at the corner of North Street and Cedar Crest Boulevard, which is near Emmaus High School, Buglio said.
"I want to personally offer my thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences to the victim's family and everyone who is unexpectedly grieving in this sudden and tragic incident," Buglio wrote.
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Several current and former Emmaus High School students were involved in the crash, Emmaus High School said in a statement to families, while noting "that witnessing or hearing about an accident can be a traumatic experience for individuals."
"District counselors and psychologists will be available Wednesday at Emmaus High School to assist students and faculty," the statement said. "Families are encouraged to reassure their children that our school community is here to support them if they are struggling with this event."
There is an ongoing investigation into a cause for the deadly wreck.
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