ADAIR COUNTY, Ky. (WHAS11) – Kentucky State Police are investigating a Friday ATV Crash that killed two Adair County High School students.
Troopers say the crash happened around 5 p.m. on KY 206 and Sanders Ridge Road in Columbia.
Fifteen-year-old Macie Drake and fifteen-year-old Abby Gail Curry died at the scene. Troopers say Drake was driving an ATV on Sanders Springs and did not stop at the intersection, the vehicle collided with a Ford F-250 pickup truck.
Fourteen-year-old Raquel Anyesa remains in critical condition after being flown to UK Hospital. We’re told she is in 8th grade at Adair County Middle School.
“It's a shock for the community because those girls were out having a good time and this happened. It was such a horrific accident and it is really taking a toll on some of the family. Two of them were sophomores and one of them was flown out to Lexington,” Mary Robertson, a cousin of Abby Gail Curry said.
Robertson recalls one of Curry’s most prominent features, “She always had a smile on her face and she was just a happy girl going through life.”
Adair County Schools Supt. Alan W. Reed issued the following statement Saturday morning following the tragic accident Friday that took two students' lives and critically injured a third:
"Adair County is a small county and our school system is like one big family. When one hurts, we all hurt. Today our hearts are heavy with grief and concern surrounding the tragedy that occurred Friday evening.
We want to extend our thoughts and prayers to the loved ones and friends of Macie Drake and Abby Curry, sophomores at Adair County High School. We also remain deeply concerned for Raquel Anyega, an eighth grader at Adair County Middle School, who was seriously injured in the same accident.
On behalf of our staff, students, and school community we extend our deepest sympathies to each of these families. There is nothing worse than a parent losing a child, our school system losing a student, or a community having to come to terms with losing those so young. Today our families, our schools, and our communities will all be leaning on each other for support, love, and guidance.
Last night our school system began implementing our crisis response plan. District and regional mental health professionals and counselors immediately went into action and began providing grief counseling for our students and faculty. We ask parents to please monitor how your child is grieving and let us know if you feel that your child needs to speak with someone about this situation. We will continue to offer these services for an extended period of time to help everybody that has been touched by this tragedy.
Once again, our thoughts and prayers are with everyone that has been affected."