2 Galveston teens killed in garbage truck wreck

GALVESTON, TX (KTRK) -- Galveston police say two high school students died after their vehicle went out of control and collided with a garbage truck Friday morning.

The wreck happened near 85th Street and Stewart, killing Gabrielle Giles and Christopher Ragle, both 16 years of age. Both were students at Galveston Ball High School.

Police say Ragle appeared to have been driving the eastbound pickup truck that collided with the westbound garbage truck. Investigators are trying to determine what caused the pickup to go out of control and slide into the oncoming lane shortly before 6am.

The teens were alone in the pickup. Investigators say they were headed to school and were known to go out for breakfast first.

"Just loss of our community. it's sad. our age. our friends. our group. its just too much. something these kids didn't deserve," said Ty Johns, who identified himself as an acquaintance of the victims.

Of Giles, Ball high student Joseph Mellen said, "She could dance, she was just a happy person."

Nobody in the garbage truck was injured.

School officials planned to have counselors available.

Galveston police didn't immediately provide additional details.

Republic, the company that owns the garbage truck released the following statement.

The Associated Press contributed to this report