2 teens killed in crashes on St. Louis area highways days apart

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) – Communities in St. Louis County are mourning the loss of two teens who died in two separate crashes on highways within the last week.

On Friday, police said that an 18-year-old died when he drove off the road on Bermuda in north St. Louis County, went airborne, landed on I-70 and then hit the median.

Two days later, on Sunday, an 18-year-old girl died in a crash, and the 17-year-old boy who was behind the wheel was seriously injured.

Parkway Central High School identified the 18-year-old girl as Olivia Bumbac, who was the passenger in the car who died.

The crash happened around 9 p.m. on Sunday on I-64 near 141. Highway patrol said the 17-year-old driver was speeding, slid and flipped his car into the oncoming lanes.

After the teen flipped into the eastbound lanes, the crash report showed he hit another driver, and then the car went into an embankment.

Highway Patrol Sgt. Andrew Gadberry said knocking on the door of a family to tell them a loved one has died in the crash is the hardest part of the job.

“When we have to go to someone’s house and let them know a parent or grandparent or child or family member has passed away, it’s the worst thing we have to do on the patrol,” Sgt. Gadberry said.

It’s something Sgt. Gadberry said he’s had to do far too many times.

“I can look back and see every single one I’ve worked,” Sgt. Gadberry said.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop C reported 12 fatal crashes with teens under the age of 18 in 2025.

“It’s never easy to go tell a family member that they’ve lost a loved one,” Sgt. Gadberry said.

There is a proposed bill in the Missouri Senate that would create the “Missouri Integrated Safe Driving Program” to provide standardized driver education instruction and training for students in grades 9-12.

Driver’s education is not mandated in Missouri.

Simon Anderson runs the Coach Harder Driving School where thousands of teens get hands on driving experience every year.

“I really want a bill like that to pass because driving is one of the leading causes of teen deaths, and we want to stop that. Anything to lower that number is important,” Anderson said.

Anderson said any practice and education will be a huge benefit to teens.

“Passing the driving test is the minimum standard. Knowing they can drive safely on their own after taking the test is perhaps the most important,” Anderson said.

Parkway Central was back in school on Tuesday, and the district said counselors are available to help students as they navigate the loss of their classmate.

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