PAYNE COUNTY, Oklahoma -
A tragic accident
in Payne County kills two 17-year-old girls from Oklahoma City.
The teens were
students at the Classen School of Advanced Studies. Four other people were also injured in the crash, but not as severely.
Family, friends
and everyone at Oklahoma City Public Schools are grieving the loss of Dajia
Brown and Karla Duenes. Another student,
Sophia Gabrielson, is recovering in the hospital.
The Highway Patrol
says the accident happened when a car crashed into the students' broken down
van along the highway.
It was a somber day at a northwest Oklahoma City high school. Students returned
to class Friday, mourning the loss of two of their peers.
"Right along with
the family at Classen School of Advanced Studies, we're grieving the loss of
those two students and hoping for a full recovery for that third student
involved in the accident," OKCPS spokesperson Tierney Tinnin said.
3/1/2013 Related Story: Two OKC High School Teens Killed In Payne County Crash
Recovering is
16-year-old Sophia Gabrielson. Dajia Brown and
Karla Duenes, both 17, were killed.
The accident
happened around 1 a.m. Friday on state Highway 51, just east of I-35 in
Payne County.
OHP troopers say
the girls were in a van that had broken down, and three people were trying to push
it along the highway. That's when we're
told another car crashed into them. The two girls were
pinned inside for hours before rescue workers could get them out.
Back at the
Classen SAS, grief counselors were on hand Friday to talk with students and
faculty.
"These are kids
they see five days a week the majority of the school year. So they have a huge
relationship with these students," Tinnin said.
The driver of the
other vehicle was treated and released. The Highway Patrol is still investigating the crash, but at this
point, they believe this was just a tragic accident.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Daija Brown and Karla Duenes were students at Classen SAS.
