Council Rock Students Faced With Handling Tragedy Of 3 Teens Killed In Crash
By Brad Segall
HOLLAND, Pa. (CBS) -- Funeral services and viewings have now been scheduled for the three Council Rock High School South students who were killed over the weekend in a one-car crash in the Poconos. A local doctor has weighed in on how difficult it will be for their friends who attend.
There will be three consecutive days of memorials starting Wednesday for Cullen Keffer, Ryan Lesher and Shamus Digney, who were killed late Saturday morning when the Suburban SUV the boys were passengers in flipped in Paupack Township, about 70 miles North of Philadelphia.
Students have been getting counseling at the school, but doctors say the reality sets in when they turn out to pay their final respects. Temple University Professor of Psychology Dr. Sue Cornbluth says a tragedy of this magnitude takes a large toll on teens.
"They're thinking to themselves it could be me," Cornbluth says, "because teens identify mostly with their peers during this time of development in their lives."
She recommends parents go to the memorial services with their children, so they know they can lean on them for support.
"It shows the kids that they have support during this time from their parents," she says, "and that's really what you want to show your child -- that you are there for them."
Cornbluth also advises parents not to pressure their kids to talk about it, but look for signs such as sleeping and eating problems and a decline in academics that could signal a bigger problem.
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