Hemet High School Students Recovering After Car Crash

Most of the eight students injured during a car crash outside Hemet High School have since been released from the hospital, although at least two victims remain in critical condition, the school's principal said Thursday.

"My daughter Helen Richardson … she does need prayers," said one of the victims' mothers, Trisha Telezinski.

Richardson was intubated and is currently in what her mother described as a "conscious coma."

"She's very strong and she's a fighter and she's moving all over the place," Telezinski said.

The collision happened about 2:45 p.m. Wednesday -- two days before the end of the school year -- when David Carrillo, an 18-year-old junior at the school, drove his Ford Ranger through a crosswalk outside the school.

"The guy said that his brakes didn't work and that the passenger was screaming -- like three seconds before they got hit -- that the brakes didn't work, to get out of the way," said student Hayllie Cunningham.

Drugs and alcohol have been ruled out as possible factors in the crash, and no criminal charges have been filled in the case. The California Highway patrol is currently investigating the vehicle, and surveillance video that may have captured the incident.

"The driver stopped immediately after the collision to assist the victims," wrote CHP officer Darren Meyer in a statement.

In all, eight students were injured. A CHP spokesperson said Thursday that although early reports indicated an adult was also injured in the crash, that was not the case. Only eight people -- six girls and two boys -- were hurt, according to the CHP.

All of the victims are expected to survive, Meyer said.

"I can't even put this year into words," said principal Dr. Emily Shaw. "It's been one of those years that I hope will never ever be repeated and that no other principal has to go through."

Two students committed suicide this year, and a teacher was arrested on suspicion of having sex with a minor on campus.

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