March 1, 2008

Two students killed in crash

       The three boys were on their way to Whiteland Community High School.  One of them had celebrated a birthday just a day earlier. Now it was Friday, and they were making plans for the weekend.  But within a matter of minutes, the Chevrolet Camaro they were riding in slammed into a tree and wrapped around it like paper. A community was thrown into mourning.  Cody Stevenson, 16, and Justin Minton, 15, were killed. Amir Ahmetasevic, 16, was found moaning by the only witness to the crash and was rushed to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

         Word of the accident, who was killed and who was injured, was spread via text message among the 1,550 students at the high school.  "It's not an easy situation for anyone, for the students or the adults," high school principal Tom Galovic said. "There's grief, there's anger, and there's sorrow."  School officials went into crisis planning mode. They made counselors available and allowed students to leave school.  Some stayed and talked with counselors. Others went to the hospital to support Ahmetasevic, crying, praying and pacing in the waiting area outside the emergency room. Others left school in tears, unable to verbalize their feelings.  Others gathered with classmates and friends, planned a prayer vigil and communicated through MySpace and text messages.  "People don't know how to act, including me, we're mad, we're sad, but then again, we're happy because you are safe. You're a special boy," Whiteland student Emily Hedges posted on Stevenson's MySpace page Friday afternoon.

         About a hundred students went to the crash site less than 12 hours after the accident for a sunset prayer vigil.  Flowers already had been placed at the tree, and teens had wandered the property in the afternoon picking up debris left from the crash.  As the sun set, cars and trucks lined the sides of the narrow county road, parking on lawns and in driveways.  Students braved a cold wind to mass around the scarred tree, laying down flowers.  Many shuddered with sobs.  "They wouldn't want us to cry," sophomore Kelsey Reynolds said. "They'll be here with us always in our hearts."  Before the vigil started, a sport utility vehicle sped by the students, with a few stragglers still walking along the narrow shoulders.  "Slow down!" several students shouted in unison.  Students, some huddled under blankets, formed a circle around the tree, briefly linking hands before Clark-Pleasant Middle School student Jake Reynolds played "Amazing Grace" on an acoustic guitar.  The students bowed their heads to observe a moment of silence before sophomore Ryan Schwerer led them in prayer.  "They're in a safe place now," he said. "It's hard for everyone, but now they're safe up there."  Schwerer, who said that he didn't feel like driving anymore, urged his fellow students to be safe behind the wheel.  After the crowd started to disperse, students filed past the tree to pay their respects. Some sobbed for minutes, while others paid silent homage.

         Principal Tom Galovic stood at the scene of the accident Friday morning, thinking about how his students would be affected by the news that two of their classmates had died.  He and an assistant principal had the duty no principal ever wants: to help police identify victims.  "You feel sadness for these young people who have so much life to live, and your heart goes out to their family," he said.  Then he turned to helping his students cope.  "The rumors of a severe accident were starting to trickle back to students via text messages. And so one of the first things we wanted to do was communicate with them factual information," Superintendent J.T. Coopman said.  Galovic and Coopman prepared to get onto the high school's public address system and inform students about the accident. Although they could not release the victims' names at that time, they felt it was important to address students as soon as possible.  "We have a large school now with a small-town feel, and that's what makes it special. This will be felt across the community," Galovic said.  Students will be offered help through next week. Eventually, school officials hope the accident can be used as an important lesson, Galovic said.  "We lost two members of our Warrior family today, and it's very difficult for us, and it will not be any easier next week," he said.  He said school officials want to help students and the families of the teens in any way they can.  "We're trying to be flexible and ready to obviously assist and help and hug and hold and cry and whatever's necessary," Galovic said.  Teachers and administrators struggled with the loss too.  "Two young people that we work with and we come to work every day for we know aren't going to be with us. It's similar to losing a member of the family," Galovic said.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

 

           
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