Crash is 'Superintendent's nightmare'

GRAND HAVEN, Mich. (WOOD) - Grand Haven Superintendent Keith Konarska was on the way to East Lansing ahead of the five teenage girls who were seriously hurt in a rollover crash when he got the call.

"I think this is every superintendent's and every parent's worst nightmare to have students involved in an accident and to have students injured," Konarska told 24 Hour News 8.

Students at Grand Haven High School received word of the crash shortly after it happened when administrators made an announcement over the school's intercom system.

Immediately, Konarska said, a crisis team of school staff and counselors was activated for students who struggled with the news and had questions about what happened.

Many students, staff, and parents were traveling to East Lansing to see the school's girls basketball team compete in the state semi-finals at the Breslin Center.

As word spread after the game, students gathered to pray and comfort each other.

The crash happened when the driver of the SUV the girls were traveling in crossed the median and rolled. Three of them were ejected from the crash.

Others from the school were traveling behind the crash came upon the scene and tried to help.

"From what I understand they were very helpful in comforting students and being there to support the effort," Konarska said.

School officials identified the injured students as Brittany Olds,16;  Madison Case, 17; Hannah DeVecht, 17; Emily Bogner, 16; and 16-year-old Danielle Michaels. They were all taken to a Grand Rapids hospital. Their conditions had not been released as of early Friday evening.