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Police ID teenage brothers killed in crash

Posted at 1:20 PM, Nov 05, 2015
and last updated 2015-11-06 06:33:11-05

CAROLINE COUNTY, Va. -- Two teenage brothers were killed in a Thursday morning crash on Ladysmith Road in Caroline County. Ian Brown, 18, and his younger brother Jalen, 15, died at the scene of the crash, according to Virginia State Police. The Ruther Glen brothers were students at Spotsylvania High School, according to friends.

"A 2003 Jeep Liberty was traveling west on Route 639 when it ran off the road to the right and struck two trees," Virginia State Police spokesman Steve Vick said. "The Virginia State Police Crash Reconstruction Team is assisting with the crash which remains under investigation."

Teens killed in Caroline County crash (PHOTO: Virginia State Police)

Teens killed in Caroline County crash (PHOTO: Virginia State Police)

Both Ian and Jalen were wearing their seat belts, police said.

The single-vehicle crash was reported at 7:18 a.m. near the intersection of Ladysmith Road and County Line Church Road, according to Virginia State Police.

Friend: Brothers 'were inseparable'

As news of the boys death spreads, the community is shaken and one of the boys' close friends, Joshua Wales, was heartbroken.

"I love them two boys, they were my family," said Joshua Wales. "It hurts my heart to see one of my best friends go. I'll never be able to talk to them. I'll never be able to see his their faces again."

Investigators cannot say what caused the crash.

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The Brown brothers

"It was, I believe foggy that time of the morning around 7:12 and the road were a little wet at that point," Sgt. Steve Vick with Virginia State Police said.

Wales told WTVR CBS 6 he and Ian were childhood friends, describing the 18-year-old as a happy-go-lucky person and a jokester.

"And Jalen was just the same. Him and Ian had the same personalities, and those boys were a trip," Wales said. "The two were inseparable."

For Wales, the reality is just beginning to sink.

"I've always known Ian to be safe. I've know Jalen to be safe. No life is worth risk losing, but it can all change just like that," he said.

State police confirmed the teens attended Spotsylvania County High School.

Grief counselors were on hand to help students cope with this devastating loss. Friends held a candlelight vigil Thursday night at Spotsylvania High.

This is a developing story. Stay with WTVR.com for updates. Anyone with additional information can email a news tip here.

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