Two Teens Killed in Saturday Morning Crash

Two Horsham area teens were killed in a 1:19 a.m. car crash Saturday and three others sustained "relatively minor injuries," Horsham police said. 

Robert Walker Nagel, 19, of Ambler, and Edward Taylor Coombs, 19, of Horsham, were found dead at scene of the crash, which occurred near the intersection of Witmer and Norristown Roads in Horsham.

Nagel and Coombs were passengers in a 2007 Honda Accord driven by Connor James McNicholas, 19, of Ambler. McNicholas and the other passengers, Darryl Neville, Jr., 18, of Darby, and Timothy Kurpiel, 19, of Horsham, were transported to Abington Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. 

According to a press release issued by the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office, one of the occupants said the car's speedometer read 99 MPH seconds before the crash. Police also learned that the teens had just left a party where they were drinking beer and/or mixed drinks.

Horsham Police Lt. Jon Clark said a joint investigation with the DA's office is ongoing. Any charges stemming from the crash would be filed by the DA's office, Clark said. 

Interviews and autopsy are being conducted at this time. The investigation will continue with laboratory analysis of the driver's blood and crash reconstruction.

McNicholas was said to be traveling westbound on Witmer Road, when his car traveled off the roadway and struck a curb. The car then crossed over Wade Avenue and entered a property located at 600 Wade Avenue.

"They traveled across a yard before hitting a tree," Clark said. 

Authorities said several trees were struck before the vehicle finally came to a stop. Preliminary analysis shows that McNicholas’ car traveled approximately 405 feet, from the initial point of losing control in the bend in the road to where it came to rest. 

"High speed is definitely suspected," Clark said. "We're looking into alcohol."

It is not clear if the kids were wearing seatbelts, Clark said, adding that the vehicle was totaled and has been impounded for further investigation. 

Anyone with any information pertinent to the investigation is asked to contact  at 215-643-8284 or the Montgomery County Detectives.