Car Was Going 106 MPH in Fatal Crash, Police Say

A Mercedes-Benz station wagon carrying four Westlake High School students was traveling 106 mph when it spun out of control and smashed into a brick wall, killing the driver and one passenger three days after Christmas.

Ventura County sheriff’s investigators confirmed Monday that excessive speed was a factor in the crash, Sgt. Patti Salas said.

Authorities are awaiting toxicology tests to determine whether drugs or alcohol were involved, though Salas said no evidence of either was found at the scene.

The driver, Kenneth Marshall Glass, 16, and front-seat passenger Jordan Alexander Bass, 16, were killed in the accident, which occurred just after 1 a.m. Dec. 28 on Westlake Boulevard near Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks, just blocks from their school campus. The posted speed limit is 45 mph.

Joshua Kuai, 16, and Jenae Chu, 16, were injured. Kuai was released from UCLA Medical Center on Sunday night, authorities said. Chu remained in good condition at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Woodland Hills and was expected to be released today.

Glass had a provisional driver’s license, which means it was illegal for him to carry passengers under the age of 20 without a parent, guardian or licensed driver at least 25 years old in the car, Salas said. His license also prohibited him from driving between midnight and 5 a.m.

Robert Bass, Jordan’s father and an attorney in the San Fernando Valley, declined to comment on whether a lawsuit stemming from his son’s death would be filed.

Jordan’s mother, Cheryl Bass, also would not comment on a potential lawsuit but was surprised by the extent to which police said Glass was speeding.

“Oh, my God,” she said, her voice quivering. “I knew they were going very fast, but I never dreamed it was that fast.”

She also said she has known the Glass family for years and that they are good, responsible parents.

“None of those kids were supposed to get in that car, and they knew that,” Bass said. “They all made a very horrific choice against the very fabric of what they’ve been taught.”

Salas, the sheriff’s investigator, said the speed estimate was based on physical evidence and skid-mark analysis at the scene. She added that in her experience investigating accident cases, speeds that high are rare.

The teens who were killed were described by friends and family members as smart, athletic and outgoing. Jordan Bass was an avid golfer with dreams of playing competitively at UCLA. He also played guitar and drums and was trying to start a rock band.

Kenneth Glass was a part-time starter for the Westlake High varsity basketball team. He had just played in a tournament game in Orange County, which the team won, hours before the accident.

His father, Craig Glass, did not want to comment on the information released Monday about excessive speed, saying only that he remains sorry about what happened.

“I don’t know what they did or why they did it,” said Glass, an attorney. “I will dearly miss my son, and my heart goes out to all of the families involved.”

Westlake High School held a memorial service for the two teens Monday afternoon--the first day back from winter break, said Lou Lightl, an assistant principal. He said many students are still grieving for the loss of their friends and classmates.

Teenage driving safety is an increasing concern for police and school officials in Thousand Oaks. Seven young adults have been killed in crashes in and around the city since July.

Salas said she spoke with Westlake High officials Monday about teaming up to develop an education program targeted at parents and students.

“People know they’re not supposed to be driving that fast,” Salas said. “We’ve got to find a way to develop a message that will reach them.”