Teen killed, two injured in suspected ‘hill-hopping’ crash near Oak Grove

A 17-year-old girl died Friday night when she lost control of an SUV and crashed near Oak Grove, Mo., allegedly while “hill-hopping.”

A 19-year-old male and a 17-year-old female sustained significant injuries in the crash, but those injuries are not believed to be life threatening, according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office was not releasing the name of the victim until relatives could be notified.

The crash occurred about 11 p.m. on Jim Owings Road near Axline Road, northwest of Oak Grove, said Sgt. John Payne, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office.

Speed was a contributing factor to the crash, investigators believe, n along with the hill-hopping.

Drivers who hill-hop increase speed while climbing a hill so they can become airborne when they reach the top.

Crash investigators do not believe the driver was wearing a seat belt because she was thrown from the vehicle during the crash, Payne said.

Authorities believe that the the teens were headed to a bonfire.

At one point, officials were looking for a possible fourth victim because one of the injured passengers said a fourth person was in the SUV. The other injured passenger, however, said that person had gotten a ride with someone else, Payne said.

No one was found that night or when the Missouri Highway Patrol searched the area on Saturday.

This story was originally published October 30, 2016 at 2:32 PM with the headline "Teen killed, two injured in suspected ‘hill-hopping’ crash near Oak Grove."