HELENA – Family and friends gathered Thursday to remember five Helena-area teenagers who were killed in a weekend crash.
The memorial at First Presbyterian Church was organized by several groups, a handful of local churches and the Helena school district as a way for people to come together and grieve.
Authorities say the teens were heading south in an extended-cab pickup truck east of East Helena at about 1 a.m. Sunday when the driver failed to negotiate a curve. The pickup slammed into a dirt hill.
Killed were Andre D. Hartwig, 18, of East Helena; Beau A. Miller-Lopane, 18, of East Helena; Eric A. Prudhomme, 18, and his sister, Danielle R. Prudhomme, 15, of Helena; and Chanda M. Scarber, 18, of Helena.
“These bad things have happened, and it make makes me think twice about things,” said Kayla French, who knew most of the those killed in the crash.
Bruce Messinger, superintendent of Helena schools, said he recognized that the community needed a place to connect. Resources from mental health professionals were available at the gathering, and more support will be in place for students when school resumes Tuesday.