Teen crash victim: 'I miss my girls'

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - A Facebook page supporting the injured Grand Haven High School students grew substantially over the weekend, a time when one of the girls remains in critical condition but two others were released from the hospital.

Brittney Olds remains in a medically induced coma because of a head injury, though school officials said her condition had stabilized.

Olds, Emily Bogner and Madison Case were unbuckled in the back seat of the SUV and were ejected during the crash along I-96 near Alden Nash around 11:30 a.m. Friday.

Bogner and Case were said to be improving over the weekend.

Hannah DeVecht, who family members said was in the front passenger seat, and Danielle Michaels, who was driving the vehicle, escaped critical injuries because they were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

In a Sunday afternoon posting to Olds' care page, loved ones said they were overwhelmed by the "outpouring of support for Brittney."

"Brittney had a stable night which is good news. She is still in a medically induced coma and is expected to be kept there for a number of days. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers," the posting said.
 
DeVecht posted a thank you to her supporters on her Facebook page late Sunday night.
 
"It's amazing how strong and united our community is and how supportive everyone has been," she wrote. "Thank you to everyone for all the prayers and thoughts."
 
But DeVecht clearly hasn't forgotten about her classmates who continue to combat serious injuries sustained in the crash.
 
"I miss my girls and I never stop worrying for them," she wrote. "Please keep up the prayers. We all have a long road to recovery, mentally and physically."

Tracy Wilson, the principal of Grand Haven High School, drove up on the crash and said she's visited every girl at the hospital since, reassuring them that the community is there for them.

"It was my kid. All of the kids in this building are my kids," said Wilson. "So my instinct and my feelings in my gut were different because they're not my blood, but it was no different in the fact that I still have to take care of them, every single one of them."
 
Grand Haven Public Schools Superintendent Keith Konarska said that he has been encouraged by the girls' recovery thus far. Konarska said counselors will be on hand for students as they return to school Monday.

The school will give each family a banner filled with well wishes this week and all the students will be wearing blue and gold ribbons on their backpacks in honor of the students involved in the crash.
 
The girls' were on their way to see the Grand Haven High School girls basketball team play in the state semi-finals at the Breslin Center in East Lansing when the crash happened.
 
The team won their game Friday before learning of the crash afterward. The girls played again Saturday and won that game as well and took home the Class A state title . DeVecht said she was watching.
 
"I watched the whole game on Saturday and I can't even explain how happy I was to see the win," she said. "I never doubted you guys for a second, I knew you were taking home that trophy. All you girls are truly amazing."
 
The community support for the crash victims continues to grow. The Facebook group Prayers For 5 Grand Haven High School Students grew to more than 2,200 members over the weekend.
 
"There's healing rain falling down upon these girls," the page administrator wrote. "Thank you Lord for your love, healing and comfort."
 
As a show of support at Saturday's game, someone held up a sign that read "For the 5 girls. In our prayers." Championship celebrations were reportedly cancelled as students focus on supporting their classmates who continue their recoveries.
 
"I've never felt so blessed and thankful for the people in my life," DeVecht wrote.