Counselors to help students cope

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WILLISTON (AP) - Counselors plan to be at school all week to help students cope after the deaths of two teenage girls and injuries to three others in a weekend car crash near Alexander.

Authorities said the crash happened on a McKenzie County road Friday afternoon, apparently when the road changed from pavement to gravel. The car went into the ditch and four of the five girls in it were ejected. All are from Williston.

A funeral service is scheduled today for Stephanie Flory, 15, the driver, and a service is scheduled Wednesday for passenger Trista Johnson.

Fifteen-year-olds Kelsey Schroeder and Amanda Vigness have been released from the hospital. The other survivor, Mellicent Carpenter, 14, remained hospitalized Monday in the intensive care unit at Trinity Hospital in Minot.

"We will have various crisis rooms at the middle school and high school," said Ann Koperski, a Williston High School counselor. "There will be three staging rooms at the high school and a couple at the middle school. A lot of the kids will need to talk this out. We will encourage them to express their feelings."

"Parents can just be there for their children and support their children. Talking about the issues helps," she said.

Koperski said many people have pitched in to help.

Williston High School Principal Chris Kittleson said staff members met Sunday to talk about how to give comfort and support.

"We will have trained professionals on campus to help out," Kittleson said.

"We are being very proactive in our approach to help the faculty and students."

Candlelight vigils were held for the victims Sunday.

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