Teens killed in northern New York crash identified

PHOTOGRAPHER: The Associated Press

PERU — Authorities say two exchange students from Asia and two local teenagers have been killed in a fiery crash on a northern New York road.

State police say today that two teens were in a car that hit the students as they walked along a rural road around 5 p.m. Tuesday in the town of Peru, just south of Plattsburgh. Troopers say the car then crashed into an embankment and burst into flames.

State police have identified the teens in the car as Brandon Rennert of Peru and Samantha Donah of Plattsburgh, both 17. Troopers believe Rennert was driving.

The other victims are 17-year-old Dat Ong of Vietnam and 18-year-old Chu Xiong of China. Both young men were exchange students at Seton Catholic School in Plattsburgh, a city about 30 miles from the Canadian border.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.