Authorities say they have evidence that the driver of a car which plowed into a group of high school students in Westlake Village did it intentionally.
"Based on early witness interviews, and evidence gathered at the scene, we were able to determine that this was most likely an intentional act," said Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Wendell Campbell.
He said witnesses told investigators the driver made a pretty concise movement to steer the vehicle towards a group of of Westlake High students. They think Austin Eis targeted the teens as they were standing at a bus stop on Thousand Oaks Boulevard Tuesday afternoon.
Wesley Welling died from injuries suffered in the incident. The 15-year-old boy was from Thousand Oaks. Another 15-year-old-boy, a 16-year-old girl, and a 14-year-old girl were injured.
There’s a makeshift memorial for the students on Thousand Oaks Boulevard, on the corner of the campus. Students, staff, and community members lit candles, and dropped off flowers.
"It's hard...it's hard what happened...it could have been any of us, right?
said Westlake High School student Zach Shane, talking about the crash.
The community is in shock. Grief counselors were on hand at the high school campus Wednesday.
Eis was pulled from his overturned car by deputies, taken to a hospital for treatment, and then arrested. He’s facing a half-dozen charges, including murder and attempted murder.
