Whittemore Prescott High School Car Accident: Two 17-year-old killed in Ogemaw County car accident now identified as Whittemore-Prescott Area School students.
On Friday morning, January 12, two students from Whittemore-Prescott Area School lost their lives in an accident in Ogemaw County.
The collision occurred in Richland Township just before eight in the morning on Mills Road close to Black Road.
According to the Ogemaw County Sheriff’s Office, a two-door Chevrolet Cobalt that was heading west on Mills Road lost control and crossed the center line, striking an eastbound 2016 Chevrolet Silverado.
Both the front-seat passenger and the Cobalt’s 17-year-old driver were transported to MyMichigan Medical Center in West Branch to receive medical attention for their wounds. According to the sheriff’s office, the driver is still in the hospital while the passenger in the front seat passed away there.
Another 17-year-old who was riding in the Cobalt’s back seat passed away at the scene.
Superintendent Mike Ehinger stated that all three of the Cobalt’s passengers were Whittemore-Prescott Area Schools students.
The sheriff’s office stated that the 30-year-old driver of the pick-up was unharmed and that an 8-year-old passenger in the vehicle was sent to the hospital for assessment.
The Whittemore-Prescott Area Superintendent of Schools, Mike Ehinger has now released a statement following the tragic incident.
“Dear Valued Members of Our School Community,
I hope this message finds you well, despite the challenging circumstances that have unfolded today. I wanted to take a moment to address a deeply saddening incident that occurred earlier this morning.
On the way to school, three of our students were involved in an accident, and regrettably, there have been two fatalities. I want to express my deepest condolences to the affected families. Our hearts are heavy with grief, and our thoughts and prayers are with them during this incredibly difficult time. We held this press release until we knew these families were contacted as they needed to hear it first.
I understand that there are concerns and frustrations circulating within our community. Some parents had expressed their concerns about our decision not to cancel school due to the impending blizzard. While we understand these concerns, it’s important to acknowledge that predicting weather patterns, especially in the midst of changing conditions, can be a complex and uncertain task.
In times like these, it’s easy for emotions to run high, and it’s natural to seek answers and understanding. We are committed to transparency and cooperation as we navigate this situation. We are working closely with law enforcement and emergency services to gather all available information about the accident and will share updates as soon as we have them.
In the meantime, I kindly ask for your patience and understanding as we navigate through this difficult moment together. Let us come together as a strong and supportive community, offering our comfort, compassion, and strength to those who need it most.
I also want to emphasize that our primary concern is the well-being of our students. We will be providing grief counseling and support services for our students and staff to help them cope with this tragic event. Those services are available today, possibly remotely over the weekend and early next week. If remote is available we will post the link on our website and district Facebook page.
In closing, please keep the affected families in your thoughts and prayers. Together, we can weather this storm and emerge even stronger as a community. We appreciate your understanding and support during these trying times.”