By Gina Morton
MIDDLEBURG — Dozens of classmates and friends fought back tears Saturday night during a vigil for two Midd-West High School students killed in an automobile accident Friday afternoon.
Mourners gathered at Solid Rock Youth Center in Middleburg to remember sophomore Jacob Kemble, 16, and freshman Kylie Hummel, 14, who were among the five Midd-West students involved in the crash.
Aaron Shockey knew Kylie since elementary school.
"She was fun to be around," he said. "She'll be missed."
Kemble was a "sweetheart" who had great respect for his friends and helped keep the center in order, said Leah Foor, Solid Rock's assistant director.
Kemble and Hummel were passengers in a Ford Windstar driven by Patrick J. Sullivan, 18, of Paxtonville, as were Ethan Miller, 16, and Brooke Shwope, 14.
Sullivan and Miller were flown by Life Flight helicopter to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, after the 2:30 p.m. accident on Sale Barn Road in Middlecreek Township, Snyder County. Shwope was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
Sullivan was listed in fair condition and Shwope in serious condition Saturday, said a Geisinger nursing supervisor.
Miller was discharged.
"All five students came to the Rock," Foor said Saturday. "Three were frequent, Pat, Jacob and Kylie. I was just playing pool with Jacob on Wednesday, and sitting and talking with Kylie last week. They were always good kids."
The accident scene was quiet Saturday. Skid marks that curved across both lanes and chalk lines scarred the rural road. Dirt and grass were dug up around a utility pole that the vehicle struck before rolling. The severed pole lay near a newly installed one.
A state police accident reconstruction investigator on Friday night said Sullivan was speeding when he lost control of the minivan. At least four of the occupants were ejected, Middleburg police reported Saturday, adding that none of the occupants were wearing seat belts.
Tony Jordan, Middleburg police chief, said charges may be filed pending the results of the accident reconstruction.
Teachers and counselors were available for grief sessions Saturday, Midd-West School District Superintendent Wesley Knapp said. Sessions will be held again from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. today at the high school for students.
"We're sensitive to the tragic loss in our school community," Knapp said Saturday.
Classmates took to Facebook, a social networking Web site, to express their feelings and thoughts on the loss of their friends. Two pages were created to honor Kemble and Hummel and included long lists of messages of love, friendship and pain.
It was only four years ago when the Middleburg center opened its doors for students to mourn the loss of another classmate.
In February 2006, more than 60 youths gathered when classmate Travis Walter, 16, of Middleburg, was killed in a vehicle accident on Route 522, said Lynette Gingrich, youth center director.
"At this point they really just need each other," she said. "We try to be their friend."
Friday's accident mirrors that which killed Alex Moser, 17, a junior at Milton Area High School, on Jan. 29. Moser was speeding with two passengers when he lost control of his car on New Columbia Road in White Deer Township. His Honda Accord struck and sheared a utility pole, flipped up to three times and stopped in a corn field just west of Gray Hill Road.
His two female passengers "” Emily McCaffery, 16, of New Columbia, and Brittany Bridge, 17, of Milton "” were injured.
The Midd-West students became the third and fourth teens to be killed on Valley roads in the first 78 days of the year.
Eight people have died on Valley roads since Jan. 1. Eighteen people died on Valley roads in 2009.
