BY JANICE MORSE and SUE KIESEWETTER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
WAYNE TOWNSHIP -- Three sisters and a friend were seriously injured early Thursday when their station wagon slammed head-on into a van on U.S. 127 as they headed to Edgewood High School.
The occupants of the van, a Wayne Township couple, also were injured.
The three sisters' parents "showed up at the scene, and they didn't know which hospital to go to -- all three were going to different hospitals," said Butler County Sheriff's Capt. G. Michael Grimes.
The driver of the station wagon, Fontaine Selby, 16, was in critical condition at University Hospital in Cincinnati. Her sister, Sabrina Selby, 17, was in critical condition at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton. Their younger sister, Savannah Selby, 14, was in serious condition at Children's Hospital Medical Center.
Sabrina is a senior, Fontaine a junior and Savannah a freshman at Edgewood High. They are the daughters of Janet and Robert Selby of Wayne Milford Road.
A friend who was in the Selby girls' car, Markita Bales, 14, of Trenton, also a freshman, was in critical condition at University Hospital.
About 7:20 a.m., motorists with car phones began calling the sheriff's office to report the crash in Wayne Township, just south of Wayne Milford Road -- less than three miles from the sisters' home. Witnesses said the driver of the Selby girls' station wagon appeared to be distracted, "looking down or away from the roadway," Capt. Grimes said. Rather than following a curve, the vehicle went left of center and struck the northbound van.
The couple in the van, James Johnston, 63, and his wife, Lovetta, 61, were taken to Fort Hamilton Hospital, Hamilton. Both were in fair condition Thursday night.
Neighbors and friends say the Selbys are a close-knit family who opened their home to foster children.
The Selby girls are "super nice kids," said Willis Allen, who lives next door. "They all seem like they're real happy, and they always have a smile on their faces."
Cara Anderson, an Edgewood junior who sings in the school's Choraliers group with Fontaine, said her friend was looking forward to the show group's performance this weekend.
"She's a really sweet girl who almost always has something good to say," Cara said. "I've never heard her say anything mean." Cara said she and some friends who know the Selby sisters were concerned after hearing of the accident. "I was worried," she said. "Those who knew about it were very worried."
The school is prepared today to help students cope with the aftermath of the wreck, Edgewood Principal Randy Smith said.
Mr. Smith said he met with the school staff after school Thursday to tell them about the accident.
The district's crisis team, local ministers, counselors and school psychologists will be available today "to try to aid or comfort students or staff if need be," Mr. Smith said.
