MUDDY CREEK TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- A crash in Butler County killed two young men and injured two others, including a pair of
Slippery Rock High School students.
State police told WTAE Channel 4 Action News that two helicopters were called to Portersville Road in Muddy Creek Township just before 10 p.m. Wednesday.
Corey Jones, 18, of Slippery Rock, and Aaron Rensel, 18, of Portersville, who was a student and football player at the high school, died when the car they were in crashed into a utility pole. A funeral is scheduled Sunday for Rensel. Arrangements for Jones were incomplete Saturday.
Slideshow: Images From The SceneRensel's fellow student and football teammate, Justin Angerett, 18, was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital in serious condition, as was Kirk Hines, 20, of Butler.
By Saturday afternoon, Angerett was released from the hospital after having been upgraded to stable. Hines remained listed in critical condition.
Police said all of the victims were ejected from the vehicle but have not said who was driving the car at the time of the crash.
Channel 4 Action News' Ashlie Hardway spoke with Jones' ex-girlfriend, who said the red Honda Civic involved in the crash was Jones' car.
"I was in shock. I was pretty mad that had to happen. I just started crying then I came home early," said Kimberly Summers. "He [Jones] was actually pretty laid back and quiet. He would observe things and watch everyone, but he was also, like, there, he was always there. You could just talk to him about everything."
The crash remains under investigation, but police believe whoever was behind the wheel was speeding.
"I couldn't believe it," said Martie Cooper, who identified herself as Jones' distant cousin and said the teen's father died two years ago this month in a traffic accident. "There's nothing you can say but, like I said, be there for the family and hope and pray for the best."
Slippery Rock's football game against Meadville was played as scheduled Thursday night, less than 24 hours after the crash.
The Slippery Rock Area School District superintendent's office has not commented on the crash.
Wednesday night's accident reopened painful wounds for both the student body and faculty who remember when six students were killed in accidents in 2002.
Video:
Slippery Rock High School Recalls Painful Wounds Of 2002 DeathsA seventh student was hit and killed by a car and an eighth succumbed to viral encephalitis.
All eight deaths occurred during a three-month span.A garden, created in the aftermath of the 2002 deaths, remains as a symbol of healing.
"I didn't know any of them personally, but even though I didn't, I was still pretty distraught," said student Marshall Tuten of those involved in Wednesday's crash. "Just the other day, we were talking about wearing out seat belts, not driving drunk. We've been told quite a bit about those things."
Since 2002, administrators have been aggressive in preaching the importance of safety to students when driving.
"They told us we need to be smart when we drive -- not drive crazy and go by the speed limit," said student Alec Nebel. "It's just a said thing that happened. It hit us all real close."
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