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Student killed in homecoming week accident
Emergency workers assist victims of a Monday afternoon accident
which claimed the life of a Roane teen and injured two others
(Photo by Sidney Boggs)
By David Hedges Publisher
www.thetimesrecord.net
One Roane County High School student was killed and another seriously injured in a car accident Monday afternoon.
William J. "B.J." Heading, 17, of Clio died after he was thrown from the back seat of the car he was riding in, while the driver, Katlyn Conley of Reedy, who turns 18 today, was seriously injured. Another passenger, Brandon Chandler, 17, of Clio also was injured.
All three were taken to CAMC General Hospital in Charleston.
Heading died at 10:24 p.m. Monday, Roane Sheriff Todd Cole said.
On Wednesday morning Conley remained in critical condition, according to a CAMC spokesman who said Chandler had been discharged from the hospital.
Additional counselors were called to the high school and the Roane-Jackson Technical Center, where Heading also attended classes, to help students deal with the tragedy.
"It's been very difficult but everyone is coping as well as they possibly can," said RCHS counselor Susan Gerstell. "To have three students involved, it's been particularly difficult."
Homecoming festivities are taking place at the school this week and Conley is a candidate for Miss Raider.
"We decided to go ahead and have (homecoming)," said Gerstell, "but everything has been more subdued."
Monday's accident occurred shortly before 4 p.m. on U.S. 119 at Speed. The road was wet from rain and Cole said Conley apparently lost control in a turn and her 1998 Pontiac Grand Am slid into the northbound lane.
Witnesses told police what happened next.
"She was in a sideways skid, which put the passenger side of the vehicle facing the northbound lane," said Cole.
The car was struck by a northbound SUV, a 2001 Oldsmobile Bravada, driven by Mike Hersman, 45, of Spencer.
Heading was in the back seat, near the impact of the crash, and he was thrown out of the vehicle.
Rest of the story www.thetimesrecord.net
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