WOODACRE, Calif. — A quiet grief settled over Marin County this weekend as friends, family members, and local residents gathered at the site of a devastating crash that claimed the lives of six teenage girls. Throughout Saturday afternoon, mourners placed flowers, photos, and handwritten notes at the still-chaotic crash scene along San Geronimo Valley Drive, a winding rural road shadowed by towering trees.
Car parts and debris still littered the area where, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), an SUV carrying six teenage girls veered off the road Friday evening around 7:30 p.m., struck a tree, and burst into flames.
Three of the young women were pronounced dead at the scene. Another succumbed to her injuries at the hospital hours later. As of Saturday night, the driver and one other passenger remained in critical condition, fighting for their lives.
The tragedy has shaken the tight-knit communities of Woodacre, Fairfax, and surrounding areas to their core.
“It couldn’t be more tragic than six young women in a car. Couldn’t be more tragic. Their whole lives ahead of them, no matter what happened or what the reasons are,” said Leslie Jackson, a Woodacre resident who stood quietly at the site Saturday, laying down a bouquet of white lilies. “It’s just so, so sad.”
By Saturday evening, hundreds of community members gathered at a baseball field near downtown Fairfax to honor the victims. Families, classmates, teachers, and neighbors came together in an emotional vigil, sharing tears, hugs, and memories under a golden California sunset.
Organizers called for six minutes of silence — one minute for each of the young lives lost. The crowd stood still, candles flickering, as the weight of the tragedy settled over them.
“We will live the joy and power of the presence of their lives,” said a religious leader who spoke to the crowd, encouraging the community to hold on to the spirit and dreams of the girls rather than be consumed by sorrow.
The identities of the victims have not yet been officially released by authorities as the families have requested privacy while they grapple with unimaginable loss. Friends and classmates have described the girls as vibrant, kind, and full of life — students who excelled in sports, arts, and academics, and who had bright futures ahead.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. CHP officials are working to determine what led to the horrific accident, including whether speed, road conditions, or other factors played a role.
Grief counselors have been made available at local schools, and community leaders have pledged continued support for the families affected.
In the days to come, Marin County will continue to mourn. But as Saturday’s vigil showed, they will also remember — not just the way these young lives ended, but the way they lived: with hope, energy, and dreams that, though cut tragically short, will never be forgotten.