Katrina Maisonet Jones, Adrianna Hernandez, Andrew Savage, and Cassidy Spence killed and two critically injured when vehicle crashes into tree off of Union Street in Springfield, Massachusetts

Officials say firefighters had to use a tool to pry open parts of the mangled vehicle on Tuesday night and free four people trapped inside.

Police are not releasing the names of any of the five people involved at this time, he said. Police still have to contact the families of those involved.

While the identities of the victims have not yet been made public, Springfield police confirmed early Wednesday evening that the people in the car were between the ages of 17 and 20 years old.

Directly prior to the crash, the SUV was headed west on Union Street and went straight through the intersection of Union and Maple Street, after which point the driver is believed to have lost control of the car, possibly causing the vehicle to be "airborne" before crashing into the tree.

Jones and Hernandez were often seen cheering on their fellow students as members of the Central cheerleading squad. 

Spence was an athlete as well. 

Police say a speeding SUV that went airborne and crashed into a tree in Massachusetts, leaving three people dead, was reported stolen in Connecticut days earlier.

Springfield Police Sgt. John Delaney identified the fourth dead victim as 20-year-old Andrew Savageof Springfield, and told MassLive that police believe the fifth person in the vehicle is believed to have been the driver.

Two of those classmates -- Katrina Maisonet Jones and Adrianna Hernandez -- were members of the Golden Eagles' cheerleading team.

The theme of community was a common refrain throughout the afternoon, and Gomez further reflected on the resonance of having so many city residents come out to honor the lives of the four youth. 

Speaking to MassLive on Tuesday on the condition of anonymity, the Jeep's owner said she and her family have been left "devastated and speechless" by the loss of life.

The Milford, Conn., owner of the stolen Jeep Cherokee involved in last Tuesday's quadruple fatal accident in Springfield captured the theft on video, MassLive learned.

From 11 a.m.-5 p.m. the Cold Stone Creamery located at 1000 West Columbus Ave. (Niasmith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame area) will donate 25 percent of its proceeds to the families of the victims who were killed in the Jan. 17 car accident.

Thorne is charged with four counts of motor vehicle homicide, and four counts of manslaughter, in addition to some less serious charges.