Two Mapletown High School students killed in crash
MONONGAHELA TWP. – Two desks that once were occupied by vibrant 16-year-old juniors with bright futures will be empty when the first bell rings at Mapletown High School today. Those desks belonged to Heidi Jo Garrison of Bobtown and Christina Michelle Holloway of Greensboro, both of whom were killed in a vehicle accident shortly before 11 p.m. Saturday.
Those who knew the girls will remember them as being outgoing, friendly and intelligent.
Phillip Savini, superintendent of the Southeastern Greene School District, said that both girls were well known.
“They were extremely well-liked and intelligent,” said Savini.
Garrison and Holloway were leaders among their peers, he said, explaining that they were always taking the initiative in school activities.
“You always saw them involved in different activities,” said Savini. “They were always busy, always doing something.”
According to state police at Waynesburg, Garrison and Holloway were driving along Route 88 when the accident happened.
Police said that speed was a factor.
According to police, Garrison, who recently received her driver’s license, was southbound when she rounded a left-hand curve, lost control of the vehicle and hit a guardrail. The 1996 Dodge Stratus she was driving jumped the rail, became airborne, struck several trees and caught on fire, said police.
Greene County Deputy Coroner William Lewis pronounced Garrison and Holloway dead at the scene.
Garrison’s sister, Holli Jean Garrison, 13, suffered moderate injuries but was able to escape the vehicle before it caught fire, said police. She was treated at a local hospital and is now at home with her family.
Social studies teacher Dwight DeCarlo, who knew the deceased girls for three years, described Garrison as being outgoing and fun to be around.
“Heidi worked in the office as an aide,” DeCarlo said. “You would see her walking through the halls from time to time. She always had a smile on her face.”
Likewise, DeCarlo described Holloway as being extremely intelligent and polite: “Christina was in the running for valedictorian. She was also probably the most polite person I’ve had in my class (during my) 31 years.”
Savini said this tragic accident would be hard on students and faculty members alike because of the school’s close-knit atmosphere. About 380 students are enrolled at Mapletown High School, with 40 to 50 in the junior class.
“In a small school like ours, everybody knows everyone,” Savini said, adding that many of the students grew up together.
The high school will have at least one counselor available today for students who need to discuss issues related to the accident, said Savini.Garrison was active in Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and had played trumpet in the junior high school band.
In addition to her sister, Garrison is survived by her parents, David A. and Lisa Franks Garrison of Bobtown; her paternal grandmother, Helen June Garrison, and maternal grandparents, James E. and Alma Jean Franks, all of Bobtown; and by a number of aunts, uncles and cousins.
The family will receive friends in the Richard R. Herod Funeral Home, 501 Morgantown St., Point Marion, Tuesday from 1 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday until the service at 10:30 a.m.
Holloway was born Aug. 19, 1986, in Silver Spring, Md., a daughter of Michael Holloway, Sr. of Laurel, Md., and Tina L. Humbert Friday and Kevin J. Friday of Greensboro.
A member of the United Methodist Church, she led her class in academic standing and was hoping to pursue a career in medicine. She was a member of the National Honor Society, SADD, the Gifted Program and the Interact Club and was a tutor at the high school.
Surviving, in addition to her parents, are a brother, Michael Holloway Jr., at home; a sister, Jessica Christen Holloway at home; two stepbrothers, John and Andrew Friday of Mather; maternal grandparents, James C. and Gertrude Humbert of Greensboro; paternal grandparents, David and Sallie Holloway of Capital Heights, Md., and Richard and Yvette Friday of Plum Borough; and several aunts, uncles, great aunts and great uncles.
Friends will be received at the Yoskovich Funeral Home, 300 S. Vine St. (Route 88), Carmichaels, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church, 104 West South Street, Carmichaels. The Rev. Roger C. Saunders will officiate. Interment will take place at the convenience of the family. The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Christina M. Holloway Memorial Scholarship Fund, in care of Community Bank N. A., P. O. Box 357, Carmichaels, Pa. 15320-0357.