UPDATED: Gig Harbor Student Killed in Car Crash

A Gig Harbor High School student died in a single-car accident Tuesday night.

According to the office, David Haas, a senior at , was killed in the crash. Haas, 17, died just five days shy of his 18th birthday.

The report stated that a couple was driving down 144th Street when they found the 2000 gold Toyota Land Cruiser in the embankment of 144th and 54th Avenue. The car was registered in David's father's name, Scott Haas.

According to , firefighters at station #56, located less than two blocks away from the scene, were dispatched at 8:22 p.m. Pierce County Sheriff's deputies also responded to the scene soon after.

Prevention Division Chief Penny Hulse said the car crashed into an embankment causing heavy damage to the vehicle. She said the driver suffered trauma to the head, chest and abdomen and was not wearing his seatbelt.

Officials said Haas was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:34 p.m.

Principal Ted Strong said the school is saddened by the news and is mourning the loss.

"We feel like we've lost one of our own family members."

He said there will be extra counselors from the district who will be available at the school today.

"We have a couple rooms in the building where the students could be out of the class for a little bit, or if they need a counsellor to talk to or need other students to be around," he said.

Strong said several students who were close friends with the victim have decided to stay home.

"David was truly one of those guys that was liked by everybody. He was a very gentle person. He was always friendly," Strong said.

This is the third tragedy for the Haas family as David's two older brothers died in 2006 and 2009.

The Pierce County Sheriff's office said the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office will provide the toxicology report to confirm the official cause of death.