2 Sisters Killed, 1 Hurt In Crash In West Michigan Crash
HOWARD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - Two young sisters were killed and a third is in critical condition after a traffic accident in which their baby sitter ran a stop sign and was struck by a pickup truck in southwestern Michigan, police said.
Six-year-old Sophia True and 9-year-old Juliana Brown died Tuesday in the accident in Cass County's Howard Township, about 80 miles southwest of Grand Rapids, MLive.com reported.
Four-year-old Penelope True was in critical condition. Nineteen-year-old Sarah Michael was driving them home from school, less than a mile away, when the collision happened.
Sophia and Juliana were students in the Niles elementary schools, while Penelope was to start preschool this week, said Richard Weigel, superintendent of the 3,653-student district.
"This is very much a family. We are all hurting," Weigel said.
Michael bypassed a stop sign and her car was struck broadside by a pickup truck, according to Michigan State Police. Weigel said school officials were told Michael was the girls' babysitter. She was treated at a hospital and released.
The pickup driver was treated at the scene.
Niles High School freshman Jazmyne Rodriguez was killed over the weekend in a separate crash.
"Both of these (fatal crashes) are very hard for us," Weigel said. "They were safe and happy and doing well when they were here."
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