Girl Scouts honor teen crash victims
Placing cross memorial
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WARREN -- Mayor Doug Franklin said in his years as mayor he remembers the most tragic event being the auto accident of March 10, 2013, on Pine Avenue, which claimed the lives of six local teenagers.
To remember the six teens -- Alexis Cayson, Andrique Bennett, Kirklan Behner, Daylan Ray, Brandon Murray, and Ramone White -- a special memorial cross with their names on it was unveiled Sunday during a ceremony coordinated by members of Girl Scouts Troop 80324.
Scouts leaders Sonya Carter and Tammy Raimey led the effort to get the marker made and placed at the location. The cross was made by the Rev. Joseph Walker of Restoration Christian Fellowship Church in Warren.
Leading the ceremony were Girl Scouts Alexis Carter, 14, Serenity Breckenridge, 12, and Chayse Powell, 13, who wanted the families and the community to know the six lives are not forgotten.
"The girls wanted to do something as part of the community. This is a site of great loss for our community. These young lives were gone from our community too soon. We want the families to know the community cares. This was befitting to have the cross placed here because some of the kids were their age," Sonya Carter said.
The six teens died when the van they were in went off the road at a curve at the location and into a nearby pond.
In addition, Sonny Morgan, with the A. Philip Randolph Institute Trumbull County Chapter, said special memorial plaques will be presented to the families of the six victims.
Morgan said the tragic loss of six young lives always will be remembered.
"We are very sad of what happened to these young people. The plaques are for the families to help them," he said.
Several speakers shared their memories of that day.
"That day was the most tragic and worst for me as mayor," Franklin said.
He said the tragic event is a teaching moment to help other young people.
"As much pain as I felt and as tough as it was that day, the pain of the families is unimaginable and what they continue to go through every single day since this tragic day. We are still with you and have not forgotten you,'' Franklin said.
He said the city has experienced many tragedies through the years but this one had six young people and six different families.
"This was tragic for our entire community. I will never forget that day. Today we have an opportunity to memorialize them in a commemorative way and to know their lives were not lost in vain. It's a proud day for us as a community even in the face of that tragedy six years ago," Franklin said.
Rev. Julian Walker, representing Restoration Christian Fellowship, said the event led people in the community to come together and be stronger.
"We are here to remember them and also for their loved ones," he said.
Alexis Carter said the cross is a way to remember those who lost their lives at the location.
"It could have been any young person to lose their life here," she said.
Breckenridge said she led a prayer to help the families know that people are still thinking of them and their children.
The site of the accident has a large guardrail placed along the roadside. Teddy bears, flowers and other items decorate the site.