SPANISH FORK — Students in Spanish Fork were in mourning Monday as they felt the void left by two classmates who were struck and killed by a train over the weekend.
A third teen was also hit by the train and is in critical condition at Primary Children's Medical Center.
"When I first heard about it, I was in disbelief," said Maple Mountain student Bryson Van Tassell.
Kelsea Webster and Essa Richter, both 15, were killed on Saturday while taking pictures along the three sets of train tracks in Spanish Fork Canyon. They were there with Kelsea's 13-year-old sister, Savannah. Authorities believe the girls were standing on the tracks watching one train coming from one direction and didn't realize another one was approaching from behind them.
Kelsea attended Maple Mountain High, and Essa and Savannah were students at Diamond Fork Junior High.
A girls choir Kelsea was a member of paid tribute Monday by holding hands and singing peaceful songs. Some girls sang through tears, while others paused mid-song to console each other.
"I just thought it was amazing. They all had emotion and it shows how much our school was hurt by this tragedy," said Madie Kay, a student. "But it's bringing us all together and helping us become closer as a school and as friends."
Lana Hiskey, spokeswoman for the Nebo School District, said there was a palpable feeling of sadness in the halls of the schools Monday.
"Saturday night was a horrific, tragic accident, and of course there is grief," Hiskey said. "I've been in the halls and it's very somber."
Students wore dress clothes in honor of all three girls and their families. They also wore turquoise ribbons in remembrance of their fun loving spirits.
Students said they're familiar with the train tracks where the accident happened.
"We go past them every day. That's our only way in and out of the canyon," Kay said. "Life — things can be gone in a matter of seconds."
Authorities said it isn't clear exactly what happened on the tracks, but confusion likely contributed to the accident.
"It could have been noise from the train that kept them from hearing the other train," said Sgt. Spencer Cannon with the Utah County Sheriff's Office. "Or maybe they realized it was there, but it was too late for them to get away."
Savannah was the only one to survive the accident and her classmates at Diamond Fork are praying for her.
"We're just going through the grief of the accident," said Ridge Payne, student body vice-president. "We all loved them."
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