A Somerset County high school student was killed and several other people were hurt early today in a three-car crash on Route 30 in Westmoreland County.

Ligonier Township police and troopers from the state police accident reconstruction team are investigating the chain-reaction crash, which occurred around 1:30 a.m. near Laughlintown.

John Blough, 15, died when the car in which he was riding was struck from behind by another vehicle. He was riding in the second of three cars involved in the crash, authorities said.

Police would not release names of other victims, referring questions to Westmoreland County District attorney John Peck. But Mr. Peck said his office was not involved in the investigation and did not have any details about it.

Joseph Bradley, principal of North Star High School in Somerset County, told KDKA-TV that John, of Jenner, was a freshman student and most of the others involved in the crash attended his school. Another passenger was a student at a different Somerset County school, he said.

The students and some parents were traveling home after attending the Britney Spear concert last night at Mellon Arena, Uptown.

Grief counselors will be available to meet with students Monday, Mr. Bradley said.