LIMERICK TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Authorities in Montgomery County have confirmed that three individuals are dead following a devastating crash Tuesday night in Limerick Township, an incident that has shaken the local community and impacted students from Owen J. Roberts High School.

According to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, the crash occurred just after 9 p.m. in the 300 block of Ridge Pike. Investigators say the vehicle involved had earlier fled from police after officers attempted to stop it in connection with a suspected theft at a Target store in nearby Upper Providence Township.

The vehicle, carrying four occupants, lost control and crashed a short time later. Emergency responders pronounced three of the occupants—two men and one woman—dead at the scene. A fourth man was rushed to Temple University Hospital with undisclosed injuries. As of Wednesday, his condition has not been publicly updated.

Authorities have not yet released the names of the deceased, pending notification of next of kin.

Montgomery County detectives and local police are actively investigating the crash, including the events that led up to the fatal collision. It remains unclear how fast the vehicle was traveling or the precise cause of the crash.

In a letter to the community Wednesday morning, Owen J. Roberts School District Superintendent Dr. Will Stout confirmed that students from the high school were among those involved in the tragic incident. While the district did not specify how many of the vehicle’s occupants were students, the announcement has prompted an outpouring of grief throughout the school community.

“Please keep our fellow Owen J. Roberts High School families in your thoughts as they go through this difficult time,” Stout wrote. “Grief counseling is available for all students and families. We encourage everyone to be attentive to signs of emotional distress in children, as grief can surface in many ways.”

Counseling teams are being deployed to support students and staff during this difficult period, and the school district has urged families to seek support if needed.

Officials ask that anyone with information about the incident contact Montgomery County detectives as the investigation continues. The DA’s Office has not yet confirmed whether charges will be filed in connection with the original theft report or the police pursuit.

The tragedy has cast a somber mood over the community, with residents and school staff rallying around those affected by the loss.