Four Timberview Students Involved in Fatal Crash

A North Texas high school already coping with the death of one of their coaches is now dealing with another tragedy.

Just before midnight Saturday, 17-year-old Kimberly Pimental was driving on Highway 360 when she crashed and hit the median.

She was taken by CareFlite to Methodist Dallas Medical Center in critical condition. Two other passengers were also taken to the hospital.

Carlos Marquez Jr., who was sitting in the back seat, died at the scene. Marquez was set to turn 16 on Monday.

All four are students at Mansfield Timberview High School. Classmates were already mourning the loss of Marquez and hoping for the best for Pimentel and the others on Sunday afternoon.

"Without her (Pimentel) I'd be failing pre-calc," Cameron Albertson, a Timberview senior said. "I mean, she really helped me. I hope she pulls through, I hear she's in a coma. I hope she's going to be OK." Albertson and a small group of friends left flowers at the crash site on Sunday.

Grand Prairie Police say witness reports have Pimentel going 85 miles per hour while trying to pass another vehicle along a curve not far from the high school. The speed limit for Highway 360 is 55 mph.

Police believe Pimentel's inexperience behind the wheel and the high speeds led her to lose control of the car. As tragic as the accident is, police say there is a lesson to be learned from the crash.

"There's a speed limit posted on the road for certain reasons," said Det. Lyle Gansler. "And if we can encourage the general public, not to mention inexperienced drivers to slow down."

That's a lesson Albertson is already taking to heart, just hours after one of his classmates died and a close friend remains in critical condition.

"This could have happened to anybody and it's just hard to picture," Albertson said. "I don't want to be responsible for anybody's death or anything. It's scary."

Gansler said it will be a tough week for the community, as it comes just days after students and staff at Timberview dealt with the loss of a beloved teacher and coach.

29-year-old Cody McCarty, offensive coordinator at the school died last Sunday.

NBCDFW's Greg Janda contributed to an earlier version of this report.