By Cindy Kranz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The locker of Jessica Carson is decorated with a flower and covered with expressions of loss. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

Heartfelt messages scrawled on Jessica Carson's locker Wednesday spoke volumes about what it feels like to have two deaths in the Princeton High School family.

Jessica, I love you + Cassie more than you'll ever know. I wish we could have finished growing up together. You are missed. Alli

The 16-year-old junior from Springdale and her good friend, Cassandra "Cassie" Conrad, a 17-year-old senior from Sharonville, were killed instantly in a car accident late Tuesday afternoon on Interstate 275 near Ohio 4.

Ten Tristate teenagers have now died in accidents with teen drivers at the wheel since Aug. 1.

Speed, rain and inexperienced driving contributed to the accident, said Springdale Police Capt. Bill Hafer. Neither girl wore a seat belt, he said: "It wouldn't have done any good, at least in one instance and maybe both ... The car was pretty well mangled."

Carson

Conrad

News of the accident cast a pall over Princeton as administrators and teachers began the sad task of telling students. A crisis team of counselors and school psychologists saw a steady stream of students throughout the day.

"They go in to talk, cry and grieve," said Principal Ray Spicher. "The counselors are there to support them. The mood around school is, obviously very somber. Students seem to be very sad. Some are in shock. It hasn't set in what happened."

Throughout the day, students signed posters to send to the girls' families. Two dozen roses, a vase of carnations and a bear were left at the foot of Jessica's locker.

The school, which has 2,000 students, plans to have its own makeshift memorial in front of the building near the murals of the seven stages of man.

"We're going to use that area for students to drop off flowers, teddy bears and pictures - the kind of things students like to do," Mr. Spicher said.

It was a tough day for teachers and staff, as well. Marsha Miller, the 12th grade principal, and Larry E. Sussman, the 11th grade principal, fought back tears throughout the day.

"We're having a hard time, too," Mrs. Miller said. "I told the kids if they need a hug, we need one, too. We just have to support each other."

The two principals described Cassie and Jessica as very close friends who had a tight network of friends, yet they also had many friends outside the group.

"They were very vivacious in the hallways," Mr. Sussman said. "They're the kids you saw coming down the hallway with smiles on their faces."

"They were just normal, average kids," Mr. Sussman said.

Mr. Sussman is so moved by the messages on Jessica's locker that he plans to take the door to her funeral:

I wish we could have finished growing up together.

E-mail ckranz@enquirer.com