By Laurel Droz
Staff Writer
Grand Blanc Twp.-Goodrich High School was unnaturally quiet on the morning of Jan 25, following news of a car accident that resulted in the death of one classmate and the serious injury of two others.
According to a statement issued by the Grand Blanc Township Police Department, Danielle Bila, 17, was driving a Pontiac Bonneville westbound on Baldwin Road between Vassar and Saginaw roads on the evening of Jan. 24. Kayla O’Mara,16, and her twin sister Kaitlin were passengers in the vehicle. The girls were on their way to a coffee house in Grand Blanc.
At approximately 7:10 p.m., Bila lost control of the vehicle due to icy conditions on the road. The car spun across the center lane, hitting an eastbound 2002 Ford pick-up truck.
Kayla was thrown from the vehicle and all three girls suffered serious injuries. The driver of the truck, a 41-year old Lapeer resident, was alone and suffered minor injuries and was later arrested for driving while intoxicated. No name was released.
Sgt. Bauserman of the Grand Blanc Township Police Department said icy conditions made it difficult for police and firefighters to get to the scene.
Genesee County paramedics arrived on the scene before being called, after encountering the accident while on duty.
The Grand Blanc Fire Department used the Jaws of Life to extricate the girls.
The teens, all juniors at Goodrich High School, were taken to Genesys Regional Medical Center in Grand Blanc where Kayla was pronounced dead. Danielle and Kaitlin were listed in critical condition as of presstime on Thursday.
Goodrich students and faculty were shocked by the tragedy.
‘They’re wonderful kids’just absolutely wonderful,? said Superintendent Kimberly Hart.
‘My heart just breaks for their families,? Hart added.
Hart said Goodrich High School Principal David St. Aubin had made an announcement at the beginning of school, telling students what had happened.
However, Hart said many of the students had already received word of the accident.
‘It’s a tight-knit community and that stuff travels fast,? Hart said.
Both Kayla and Kaitlin were on the Goodrich girls cross country team, which won it’s third straight Davision 3 state girls cross country championship on Nov. 5, 2005.
Kayla was given credit for her role in the win after competing with a foot injury.
Goodrich High School counselor Geri Hammill said the staff were mostly notified of the event before coming to school that morning.
‘We got the word last night,? Hammill said.
Between 8:30-9 p.m. a ‘crisis committee? was called into affect. The committee was organized to help deal with crisis situations, and is comprised of individuals including teachers, administrators, secretaries, Hammill said.
‘We met with the staff at 7 a.m. Staff knew what they were coming into,? Hammill said.
Hammill said grief consoling was soon put into effect at the school, involving the efforts of social workers, local clergy and youth pastors. She said the extra assistance would remain available to students as long as was deemed necessary.
Pastor Karl Zeigler, Goodrich United Methodist Church was among those who gave assistance. Zeigler said he helped students by ‘just spending time and listening.?
‘I took the girls classes in the first three blocks. I talked with individual students, and staff,? Zeigler said.
Zeigler said the general tone of the students at school was ‘extremely quiet. Surprised and really personally distressed was the atmosphere at the school.?
‘The teachers did an outstanding job. The three classes that I was a part of, they expressed their own concerns and their own feelings.?
Hammill said teachers had been instructed to ‘play it by ear,? when conducting classes. They were to allow students to express concerns, but not necessarily to suspend all regular classroom activity.
‘Staff has definitely been affected,? Hammill said. ‘All three young ladies were phenomenal students.?
‘The staff is really close with their kids,? she added.
Classmates were hit hard by the news, said Hammill. ‘A lot are in shock, some in disbelief. A lot came to school just wanting to meet with friends.?
‘By the time the lunch hour took place’I wouldn’t say it was normal by any stretch of the imagination.? it wasn’t quite as oppressive, there wasn’t such a pall over the school,? Zeigler said.
‘Students are pretty resilient, not that it makes it any easier,? Hammill said. ‘Kids are doing OK.?
Zeigler went to sit with students at the hospital as they offered their support and awaited news of Kaitlin and Danielle’s condition.
He said he had spoken with both girls parents and they had expressed their appreciation for the support they had been shown.
Hammill recommends that parents of students affected by the accident ‘be there (for there kids).?
Even if the student seems quite, reassurance may be needed, she said. ‘Some students aren’t ready to talk about it yet,? Hammill said.
Pamela Cox, a bereavement counselor at Genesys Home and Hospice Care, 7280 S. State Road, Goodrich, agreed.
‘Keep them talking,? she said.
Cox said students experience grief in much the same way as any adult would, with the exception that teens are often less experienced coping with feelings of their own mortality. Feelings of shock, sadness, loss and confusion were to be excepted, Cox said. She advised grieving students to ‘keep talking to one another.?
‘That,? said Cox, ‘will get them through it.?