As many tears and hugs were shared, those attending a candlelight vigil for Christie Manchester spoke of how much her friendship meant to them.
More than 80 classmates from Chalker High School in Southington, friends and neighbors of Manchester gathered Wednesday evening at the scene of a fatal car crash for a memorial candlelight vigil. The accident on State Road just west of Old Colony Road killed Manchester and injured two of her friends, one critically.
One of those friends, Kaylynn Barco, 17, was just released Wednesday from Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital and attended the vigil. She placed a handwritten message for her friend against the tree they hit and spoke briefly about her friend's importance in her life
''Christie knows we all love her. She means the world to all of us,'' Barco said through tears. ''Don't take life for granted. If you are mad at someone, don't be. Tell them you love them.''
She told the group how she and her friends had done so much together this summer and were planning a vacation and also plans to attend college together.
Prayers were said for Barco's recovery and for Ellen Becker, 18, of Struthers, the third person in the car, and their families.
Becker underwent surgery on Wednesday, her friends said. She was listed in critical condition Wednesday night at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, where she was flown following the accident.
Manchester would have been a senior at the high school later this month and would have turned 18 on Aug. 27.
Balloons, stuffed animals, flowers, wreaths, photos and letters and messages, including one from the Class of 2010 at Chalker High School, were placed around the accident scene.
Amber Cardona, a senior at Chalker, organized the vigil and texted friends and classmates to let them know of the vigil. With school not in session, Cardona said it was important to bring Manchester's friends and classmates together.
''We wanted to bring everyone together to get a chance to get some closure,'' Cardona said.
Lindsay Cameron, a senior at Chalker, led a prayer for all the families and friends affected by the accident.
''We pray for Christie and her family and for the impact she made on all our lives. We all love her and cherish the memories with her. We thank you, Lord, for putting her on this earth so that we could all know her and love her and have friendships with her,'' Cameron said.
Shannon Cardona, Amber's mother, said the tiny school district in western Trumbull County has so few students that when one is lost everyone knows about it and comes together. Chalker High School has about 200 students.
''This has been so difficult for everyone,'' she said.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol still is investigating the crash, but a report states Manchester was driving a 1994 Pontiac Grand Am west on State Road just west of Old Colony Road when it went off the right side of the road before hitting two trees. None of the victims were wearing seat belts, the patrol said.
The accident report states Becker was in the back seat, while Barco was in the front passenger seat.
Calling hours for Manchester will be 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at Carl W. Hall Funeral Home in Warren, where funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Reporter Marly Kosinski contributed to this report.
