Vigil honors girls killed in crash

Associated Press

CONNELLSVILLE, Pa.

Two western Pennsylvania girls who died after a collision between a car and a sport-utility vehicle were honored Sunday night in a candlelight vigil.

Several hundred people attended the event at the South Connellsville Volunteer Fire Company in Fayette County despite frigid temperatures, joining in prayer and songs to honor 12-year-old Dawnielle Victor and 14-year-old Tayler Darrell. Many then walked two blocks to leave candles in front of Victor’s home.

A cousin, 16-year-old Samantha Wilson, said she grew up with Dawnielle and considered her a sister.

“I just want everyone to know she was different,” Wilson told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “She wasn’t like everyone else. She was unique.”

State police said the two girls were riding in a car that crossed the center line of a snowy Connellsville road and collided with the SUV about 1:30 p.m. Friday. Victor died Friday at Highlands Hospital and Darrell died at 3:50 p.m. Saturday at Children’s Hospital.