A Valparaiso teenager has died of injuries sustained in a one vehicle crash on Friday in Morgan Township.

Police identified the victim as back-seat passenger Kelly Mercaldo, 16.

According to police, on Friday evening Alyssa Brown, 18, of Kouts, was northbound on C.R. 450E at a high rate of speed when she disregarded a stop sign at C.R. 500S, continued northbound across a set of elevated railroad tracks, then went airborne, striking a tree and coming to rest on the east side of C.R. 450E.

Police said that Brown, Mercaldo, and front-seat passenger Magen Singlton, 17, also of Kouts, were transported to Porter Valparaiso Hospital Campus for treatment. Mercaldo—who police said was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash— was subsequently airlifted to Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Ill., with severe head injuries and died on Saturday, police said.

“At this time the primary factor of the crash is speed,” police said. “Alcohol or drugs are not a factor.”

Posted 10/6/2008