'Absolutely horrific': 4 teenagers killed in car crash near Indianapolis

A photo provided by the Indiana State Police shows a Ford Taurus involved in a crash in Waverly, Ind., Wednesday evening that killed four Brownsburg, Ind. teenagers. The four died Wednesday evening when their car crossed a median on a state highway near Indianapolis and struck a minivan, Indiana State Police said. FIve others, including a fifth passenger in the Taurus and a family of four in the minivan, were taken to a hospital for treatment, police said. (Indiana State Police via AP) (Indiana State Police via AP)

Four teenagers from the same central Indiana town died Wednesday evening when their car crossed a median on a state highway near Indianapolis and struck a minivan, Indiana State Police said.

The four teens in the vehicle were killed and five others, including a fifth passenger in the car and a family of four, were taken to a hospital for treatment, police said. The crash happened when the car crossed into oncoming traffic on the four-lane Indiana 37 near the Morgan County community of Waverly just before 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Police announced early Thursday that 17-year-old Mathew Howard Chambers, 18-year-old Lucas Edwin Kenworthy, 17-year-old Noah James Tex and 17-year-old Riley Davis Hurst died in the crash. All four were from the western Indianapolis suburb of Brownsburg.

"It is devastating," State Police Sgt. Curt Durnil said, calling it "absolutely horrific for the families."

Officials from the local school district said counselors would be available Thursday morning at Brownsburg High School and the Harris Academy learning community, where the teenagers went to school.

"We send our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the families of these students," the school district said in a statement.

None of those killed was wearing a seatbelt, but the five survivors were. Indiana 37 was closed in both directions as officials investigated the crash scene, which is in a rural area about 10 miles south of Indianapolis.