Community mourns loss of 4 Western Pa. students killed in crash | PSP investigating

Monday was the first day back to class for Yough High School students after four classmates died in a car crash over the weekend. “The school was pretty quiet today,” Yough Junior Dakota Lubovinsky said. “Not a lot was said today, it was just a lot of silence. They were all good kids. They were just living their lives to the fullest.”Dakota Lubovinsky was one of the many students who came to Derr Road after class on Monday. According to Pennsylvania State Police, 15-year-olds Brady Hunker and Felicity Martini, 16-year-old Kylee Korber, and 18-year-old Rocco Zugai died in the crash.Flowers, photos, and other items continue to be placed by the tree where the crash happened. Chad Brown wrestled with Zugai. “He was very quiet, but he was fun,” Brown said. “He’s very fun to be around. It just felt weird going to school after seeing everything that happened. It felt out of place.” PSP is in the early stages of the investigation into the crash. “Where were they headed?” PSP Greensburg Trooper Steve Limani said during a press conference Monday. “Where did they come from? Those are all things that we’re working on.”First responders were called to the scene at 3:31 a.m. Saturday. However, the belief is that the crash happened well before then. “That crash took place definitely significantly before 3:31 a.m,” Limani said. “You can see evidence of evasive maneuvering, which was taking place because there are roadway marks from the tires. By the time the fire department got there, the fire had run its course.”Some other elements are clear from physical evidence. “The vehicle was probably traveling faster than it should have been,” Limani said. “Rocco was the operator of the vehicle. Brady was a front-seat passenger. Kylee and Felicity were in the backseat of the vehicle. Around 1:30 in the morning, there was a text exchange between one of the students and a parent.”On Monday, the Yough School District brought in additional counselors to talk to students. “I did the counseling,” Lubovinsky said. “It helped me a little bit.” In a statement, Yough Superintendent Anthony DeMaro said those services will continue. Today, our students and staff returned to school following the tragic events of this past weekend. Throughout the day, our focus has been on supporting one another with care, compassion, and understanding.We take a moment to remember the lives of Brady, Felicity, Kylee, and Rocco. Our hearts are with their families, friends, classmates, and all who are grieving this unimaginable loss.Additional counselors and support staff have been available in our schools and will continue to be in the days ahead. We encourage anyone who may be struggling to reach out and utilize these supports.We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of kindness, love, and support from our school community and beyond. There have been countless individuals, school districts, organizations, places of worship, and agencies in our county and throughout the region who have reached out and lifted our community up in so many ways — far too many to name. Your compassion and generosity have meant more than words can express during this difficult time.We also extend our sincere gratitude to our first responders for their service and support throughout this tragedy. In addition, we appreciate the media for their professionalism and understanding as we work to navigate this situation with care and respect for our students, families, and community.Please continue to keep all those impacted in your thoughts and prayers. Together, we will support one another, heal, and move forward as one community.The support from the school and community helps the peers of the four teenagers work through grief. “I thought a few were going to be here, but I didn’t think this many would be here,” Chase Brown, a freshman at Yough, said. “I’m glad a lot more people showed up.” “It feels pretty awesome to know that people still care,” Lubovinsky said. “They’re never going to be forgotten. They’re always going to be in our hearts.”Anyone with information about what happened on Saturday morning is encouraged by PSP to call 717-585-5532.“We lost four students in Westmoreland County,” Limani said. “That’s tough. If you’re a student that has the answers to the questions we’re looking for, please talk to your parents, a guidance counselor, or someone else at the school.”Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.