Grief Counselors On Hand At Utica High Schools After Crash Kills 3 Teens, Injures 2 Others
SHELBY TOWNSHIP (CBS DETROIT/AP) - Grief counselors are on hand at all four high schools in the Utica Community School district Monday morning.
They're helping students cope, following Friday night's crash at Stony Creek Metropark which killed three 17-year-old boys and critically injured two other teens.
Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham says alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.
The sheriff's department says the teens were in a speeding Jaguar that landed in the Stony Creek River on Friday evening. The site is in Stoney Creek Metropark in Shelby Township, 35 miles north of Detroit.
"Being able to talk to the two surviving individuals to try to gather more information will be critical to our investigation," said Wickersham.
Wickersham said that they had spoken with the parents of the students killed -- adding it was "a very sad and tragic event."
The crash killed Michael Wells of Macomb Township, along with Emanuel Malaj and Jonathan Manolios of Sterling Heights.
The three victims were active in sports, according to The Macomb Daily of Mount Clemens. Manolios played football at Stevenson High School, where Malaj was a wrestler. Wells was a wrestler and football player at Henry Ford II High School.
Two other teens, who were in the car at the time of the accident, are hospitalized; Greg Bobchick, 17, a junior at Eisenhower High School, is listed in fair condition at Henry Ford Hospital in Clinton Township. Joseph Narra, 17, a junior at Utica High School, remains in critical condition.
Students and others held vigils late Saturday outside the hospital and at Stevenson High School.
"In these challenging times, I know our community members will come together to support our children, families, friends and neighbors as they have in the past," Superintendent Christine M. Johns said in a letter to parents. "Please keep these families in your thoughts and prayers."
Adding in a message to parents:
"If you, your children or someone you know needs immediate support, I want to make you aware of a 24-hour hotline through the Macomb County Crisis Center at 586-307-9100. These are professionals who are trained in grief counseling. Please know our staff members will be available in the coming days should you need assistance."
Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor, who said he's been staying updated on the updated on the accident, told WWJ's Zahra Huber he's at a loss for words.
"This is probably the most tragic accident I've seen in my time being on the city council and being mayor of Sterling Heights...and it's really just shocking and a terrible tragedy," Taylor said.
A Go Fund Me page set up by the family of Michael Wells had raised more than $18,000, as of Monday morning, to cover burial expenses and funeral costs.
Funeral services for Manolios will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. John Greek Orthodox Church in Sterling Heights, according to an obituary notice. Visitation will be held 2-9 p.m. Wednesday at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons, Sterling Heights.
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