Police Identify St. Clair Shores Teen Killed in Crash

released the identity Tuesday morning of the 19-year-old St. Clair Shores woman killed in a crash shortly after Christmas night on Interstate 94.

Rebecca Wheaton was pronounced dead at the scene of the near 23 Mile Road in the township, Detective Sgt. Deron Myers said.

Her boyfriend and passenger, a 19-year-old Algonac man, remained in critical condition Tuesday morning, Myers said.

The teens were returning home from a Christmas gathering at 12:20 a.m. Monday when Wheaton lost control of her Volkswagen Jetta, crashing into a guardrail, he said.

Moments later, a 27-year-old Chesterfield man, who was unaware of the accident and unable to stop in time, crashed his Lincoln Mark III into the Jetta. Investigators are not sure if the teens were inside the Jetta at the time or if they were hit while standing outside the car, said Myers, adding that neither of them were inside the car when emergency responders arrived.

A Michigan State Police investigator is reconstructing the accident. A witness reported seeing the Jetta travel at a high rate of speed before the crash, but police said they do not have any witnesses of the actual accident.

The Chesterfield driver, who along with his 26-year-old Macomb Township passenger suffered minor injuries, was not under the influence of alcohol. Police say they are investigating whether Wheaton had alcohol in her system. Toxicology tests are pending.

Check back with Patch for more updates.