Teens killed, injured in weekend collision were all at same Chisago Lakes party, mother says

The five teenagers who were killed or injured in a head-on crash north of the Twin Cities over the weekend were at a bonfire party earlier that evening, the mother of one of the boys said Tuesday.

The collision involving a Toyota Camry, driven by a 14-year-old, and a Toyota 4Runner occurred about 2 a.m. Saturday in Chisago County near the intersection of Stacy and Ivywood trails, the Lakes Area Police Department said. Alcohol was found at the scene and is a suspected factor in the crash, police have said, without further elaboration.

On Tuesday, the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office told the Minnesota Star Tribune that one of the two teenagers killed was 17-year-old Jonathan Schwarz, the driver of the 4Runner. The Chisago Lakes Hockey Association identified the other teen killed as 15-year-old Jax Affolter, a passenger in the Camry.

Authorities on Tuesday have yet to release the names of any of the teenagers involved, although they have been identified on social media by family and organizations.

Lake Area Police Chief Bill Schlumbohm said the teens who survived the crash remain hospitalized Tuesday.

Among the injured was 18-year-old Ashton Oseth, who was Schwarz’s best friend, Oseth’s mother told the Minnesota Star Tribune on Tuesday.

“It’s a miracle that [my son] is alive,” said Jennifer Oseth, who recalled having to tell him that his friend did not survive. “It’s actually a miracle anyone survived that accident.”

The mother said the occupants of both vehicles had been at a bonfire at a home roughly a two-minute drive from the crash scene.

Jennifer Oseth said her son and Schwarz were heading home from the bonfire while the 14-year-old was returning to the party when the crash occurred.

The police chief said that “one of the things we are looking at” is who supplied the alcohol that is suspected of playing a role in the crash, and whether any laws were broken by any adult hosting a gathering with underage drinking.

Jennifer Oseth shared photos on social media of the crumpled vehicles that collided that night, and repeated to the Star Tribune what she posted Monday: “I will confirm that my son Ashton and Jonathan were not drinking. A responding officer stated directly that alcohol wasn’t suspected from either of these boys.”

She went on to write, “Regardless of what anyone wants to believe, this tragedy could have been prevented. My children have made mistakes — every kid does — but this accident took lives and forever changed others. Justice will take its course, and I have faith that truth will come out."