Two local high school students were killed and one suffered minimal injuries in a car crash this weekend in Athens County.
Maggie J. Tabler, 16, and Olivia G. Sole, 14, died Saturday night after the car they were in overturned at about 9:22 p.m. Jana M. Miller, 16, was driving east on State Route 681 in a 1998 Toyota when the car went off the right side of the road, according to a news release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The vehicle overturned and slid into a creek.
All three students were taken to O'Bleness Memorial Hospital Saturday night. Tabler was pronounced dead on arrival and Sole died from injuries sustained from the crash. Miller was treated and released, said Lynn O'Leary, nursing supervisor at O'Bleness.
Sole, of Athens, was a freshman at Athens High School. Miller, of Albany, is a sophomore at the school, said principal Mike Meek.
Tabler, of Albany, was a sophomore at Alexander High School, said principal Greg Holbert.
Meek said he was notified about the accident midnight on Saturday.
This whole thing is just a tragedy
he said. They were great kids. Any time you have a death like this it's just a tragedy. Our hearts of Athens High School go out to these families.
Counselors will be available the first day of classes this week, and will continue until necessary for students, Meek said.
Holbert said the staff at Alexander was contacted yesterday, and counselors will be available for students. Teachers were prepped to make brief statements this morning about the accident.
Each class and each group of students are different so we'll give a lot of flexibility to our teachers to allow the students to talk and share
especially this week
he said.
Preliminary reports by the Ohio State Highway Patrol show that seatbelts were used and alcohol was a factor. The State Highway Patrol declined to release any more information yesterday.
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