La Salle teen killed in a sand mine crash was under the influence

The investigation into a crash that killed a teenager from La Salle has been completed.  Zachary Behrens died on June 16 after he crashed through a fence at US Silica in Ottawa and ended up in the bottom of an old sand mine.   

La Salle County Coroner Jody Bernard says toxicology reports show the recent LP High School graduate was on LSD and marijuana when he died. An autopsy shows that he died from drowning in the water that was in the bottom of the pit.  His death is considered accidental.

His family released a statement saying they couldn’t have asked for a better son or brother.  They say Behrens was an honor roll student, enrolled in the Air Force, never got in trouble and had a bright and promising future.