Friends, classmates and others plan to gather at McKeesport’s Serra Catholic High School on Thursday night to honor the life and mourn the death of Samantha Lee Kalkbrenner.
Kalkbrenner, 15, a Serra Catholic student from Dravosburg, was killed Wednesday after the school van she was riding in crashed, authorities said.
Three other juveniles — like Kalkbrenner, all students at Serra Catholic High School — were injured and taken to a hospital in stable condition, authorities said. Their injuries did not appear to be life-threatening. Two men were taken to area hospitals in critical condition, Allegheny County Police said.
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• Serra Catholic student killed in school van crash in Dravosburg
“We invite all students, family, friends, alumni and community members touched by this tragedy to a prayer service (Thursday) evening at 7 p.m. at the Serra Catholic High School stadium,” the school said in an online statement. “All are welcome.”
Jennifer Antkowiak, a spokeswoman for the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, called the Serra Catholic community a “close-knit” one and said Kalkbrenner’s death “has deeply impacted many.”
Serra Catholic canceled classes and school activities through Sunday. Teachers and grief counselors were scheduled to be at the school from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday for any students who would like to talk.
