SOUTH RANGE District deals with deaths of 2

NORTH LIMA -- Students and staff at South Range High School were trying to cope today with the deaths of two students in a one-car crash early Saturday on Beaver Creek Road has died.
Rebecca J. Foerster, 15, of Green Township, and Mandy L. Mihalik, 15, of Salem, died from crash injuries, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol post in Canfield.
The two girls were passengers in the car driven by 16-year-old Amanda L. Shirey of Canfield, who was listed in serious condition this morning at the hospital.
Shirey's 1990 Plymouth Acclaim went off the right side of the road, which had a slight rise near the accident scene, veered back onto the road, then went off the left side of the road, over an embankment and crashed into a tree just south of state Route 165.
South Range High School Principal Dennis Dunham said school is in session today. He said the district has a crisis management plan and faculty met at the start of the day. He said he made an announcement to the entire school about the deaths, and staff is meeting separately with the four grade levels, ninth through 12th, at the school. Staff is offering information on the accident, funeral arrangements and other details.
Classes will be conducted as normal, "but we know there won't be much learning done today," Dunham said. He said the students in the close-knit high school are "just very saddened at the loss of two of their friends."