Two Florida teens were killed in a “tragic accident” while celebrating their recent high school graduation with a trip to Peru.
Albert Ales and Zachary Morris, both 18-year-old graduates of Southeast High School in Bradenton, were killed when a bus hit their motorcycles while they were exploring Cusco, Peruvian news outlet La República reported.
“Our Southeast Community is heartbroken after hearing the unimaginable news that recent IB graduates Albert Ales and Zachary Morris passed away yesterday in a tragic accident while exploring Peru. Our thoughts and prayers are centered around their family and friends,” their school tweeted Saturday.
Ales and Morris were traveling by motorcycle to the Saqsaywaman Archaeological Park, La República reported.
The teens were taken to a local hospital, where they died of their injuries hours later.
“They were such an integral part of my life, and the lives of other kids at Southeast High School for four years,” their teacher Richard Platt told WTSP. “When you see such strong, dominant personalities that were so supportive and caring for other people, it's hard to say goodbye to them.”
Morris reportedly had plans to go to Yale University in the fall, and Ales was meant to attend University of Central Florida.
The bus driver, identified by La República as 27-year-old Edison Quispe Manzanilla, was taken to a local police station after the accident and has not been charged while police are investigating.
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