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Last updated on Monday, March 12, 2012
(WASHINGTON) - Two Washington teens died at the scene after the vehicle they were in hit a semi.
The accident happened Friday, at the intersection of State Road 257 and County Road 300 South, approximately three miles south of Washington.
According to police reports Zachary T. Blubaum, 16, of Washington was operating a 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander eastbound on CR 300S when he pulled into the path of a 2005 Kenworth semi truck loaded with grain and driven by Jerrald Berry, 52, of Decker and owned by Carie Brothers Trucking of Decker.
According to the press release from the Daviess County Sheriff's Department, the force of the impact pushed both vehicles into the yard of Sherri Killion.
Blubaum and a passenger Derek Arvin, 16, of Washington, were ejected from the vehicle. Both teens were pronounced dead at the scene by Coroner Dr. Stephen Cullen. Berry was taken to Daviess Community Hospital and later transferred to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville with head injuries.
The accident caused SR 257 to be shut down. It was reopened at approximately 3:35 p.m. on Friday.
Both Arvin and Blubaum were involved in Washington High School athletic programs. Blubaum was a member of the WHS soccer team and a manager for the boys basketball team.
Arvin was a member of the 2011-2012 varsity basketball team and a junior varsity member of the soccer team.
During the day on Friday, Washington students were invited to the Washington Junior High School gym for grief counseling from local ministers. According to WHS Principal Paul White, nearly 100 students attended the sessions.
According to Washington Superintendent Bruce Hatton, grief counselors will be available when students return to school today. Faculty will also be meeting before school today for assistance if they need it.
"We're kind of like everyone else, we are in a state of shock," Hatton said. "It is not only devastating for the families, but for the entire community."
By all accounts, Arvin and Blubaum were well liked among their peers at WHS. Students and friends poured out their emotions on their Facebook pages after the announcement of their deaths Friday. A vigil was also held at Eastside Park.
Some information for this story was contributed from the Washington Times-Hearld.
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