16-year-old admits his role in fatal '06 crash

PROVO — A teen whose speeding through Hobble Creek Canyon caused the death of three teenagers admitted his role in the crash Monday.

The 16-year-old boy admitted in 4th District Juvenile Court to three counts of second-degree felony manslaughter from the Aug. 2 crash in the Springville canyon.

The boy was traveling with friends in his 2004 sports car as fast as 85 or 95 miles an hour when the car collided with an SUV, said deputy Utah County attorney Kent Willis.

Police estimated the speed from skid marks left on the pavement that were nearly 330 feet long.

The teen's back-seat passengers Tasha Brammer, 18, Mapleton; and Brady Conger, 17, and Katelyn Gabbitas, 16, both of Springville, were all killed instantly.

Police said none were wearing seat belts.

The driver and the 17-year-old front-seat passenger were treated at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center for minor injuries and released.

The driver and passenger of the SUV were not seriously injured.

Judge Mary T. Noonan will decide the teen's fate at a disposition hearing March 14.

"(In) juvenile court, (punishment) is whatever the judge feels will best rehabilitate the juvenile," Willis said. "It can range anywhere from probation to secure confinement, which is the equivalent to juvenile prison."

Springville police believed the accident happened around 10 p.m. as the driver was coming around a bend on the wrong side of the road. Trying to avoid an SUV that was in the other lane, the driver swerved and ended up in a spin. It was hit by the SUV, spun around, and hit again by the SUV.