Three Spotsylvania High School seniors were killed in a late‑night crash Friday in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.

Deputies with the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office said they were called around 11:46 p.m. to the 5300 block of Lewiston Road, just north of Lake Anna Elder Care in Bumpass, for a single-vehicle crash.

Investigators said a 2002 Mercedes left the roadway and struck a tree. Officials said speed appears to have contributed to the crash.

All three occupants, an 18-year-old and two 17-year-olds, were pronounced dead at the scene.

The teenagers, all seniors at Spotsylvania High School, were set to graduate in the coming months. Their names have not been released.

In a message to families, Spotsylvania High School Principal Robert Marchetti said faculty and staff were “deeply saddened” by the deaths and extended condolences to the families while asking the community to respect their privacy.

Marchetti said additional counseling staff will be available when classes resume on Monday, April 6, to support students and faculty who may be struggling.

He also encouraged families to check in with their children, noting that students may respond to grief in different ways following the loss of their classmates.

The crash remains under investigation.

Editor’s note: This report has been updated to include Spotsylvania High School Principal Robert Marchetti’s message to families sent after the deadly crash.