Teachers, Community Members Grieve Loss Of Girls, Mother
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Center Elementary School in Plum became a gathering place for grieving friends and teachers.
Brenna Griffith, 12, and her 8-year-old sister Mikaela, were students at the school. The girls, along with their mother Kimberly, died when their vehicle sank in the flash flood on Washington Boulevard Friday.
A makeshift memorial of flowers continues to grow at the school's entrance.
One of their teachers, Sherry Lucas, called the girls "little rays of sunshine. That's what Brenna and Mikaela were. They will be missed."
KDKA's Kym Gable also interviewed one of the civilians who came upon the Griffith's vehicle during the rescue and recovery efforts. Billy Mastro, owner of the Brilliant Marina, helped police on the scene.
"Two cops fly in here, say there are people out there drowning," Mastro said. "I got stuck on top of that one vehicle (the Griffith's mini-van) with the boats. We broke the windows out of it, and that's pretty much what we were doing, just busting the windows out to see if there was people in there, but there's really nothing you could have done to help."
The Plum School District is providing counselors to help students deal with their grief.
RELATED LINKS:
Pittsburgh Police
Flash Flooding Victims Identified As Crews Locate 4th Person
Survival Stories Emerge From Tragic Flash Flood
Woman, 2 Children Found Dead After Flash Flooding On Washington Blvd.
Flash Flooding Victim's Body Found Along Allegheny River Shoreline
