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Reporter: Randy Yohe
Email Address: randy.yohe@wsaz.com

39 comments

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A Town in Mourning

Two Teens Killed in Head On Collision

A | A | A

They were innocents.

Many can't grasp the why of the accident that took best friends Kristi Blevin and Marinda Perry without warning. At the Louisa Wendy's where Kristi worked and Miranda often visited, the manager showed us dozens of myspace.com entries -- friends remembering two outstanding high school juniors with so much promise ahead.

At a Lawrence County School System press conference, school administrators explained the challenge of dealing with the overwhelming grief. More than 200 family and friends gathered at the school library Wednesday night to mourn. The Kentucky Crisis Response Team continued to offer emotional triage.

Kristi's 11 year old sister Shelby Blevins is hospitalized in good condition. James Preece, the driver of the other car, remains in critical condition.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Sarah on Apr 18, 2008 at 05:13 PM
I love and miss you guys!

Posted by: Jessie on May 7, 2007 at 01:36 PM
Kristi was the greatest person you could ever meet. She lit the room up with her smile. She was the best friend i ever had. i love you kristi!!! aka twinkie

Posted by: Jessica on May 2, 2007 at 08:57 PM
Thankyou so much for fixing Marinda's name.

Posted by: Brookie &Tordi on May 2, 2007 at 06:20 PM
We were friends with marinda and kristi we have known marinda for forever and we love her to death.....like lots of people have said she is twirilin for God now.....we have known kristi for like two years her and marinda were always together if we seen one we would see the other..marinda always smiled and so did kristi well we wanna thank everyone for bein so supportive alot of people are takin it really hard..once again thanks for all the support..

Posted by: Mary Lou on May 1, 2007 at 11:01 AM
You know how they say that behind every gray cloud there is a silver lining. It is true. Though no one will ever know this kind of pain until it happens to them, people can have different experiences happen to them because of what happened. After I heard of this accident, it got me thinking. You never know when your last day on this earth is going to be. You don't know when God is going to call you home, we all need to be ready! I have been saved and baptized after this has happened! I hope that this brings some comfort to all who read it and especially to the family of these girls! They will be missed greatly! Love and prayers to all!

Posted by: Skip, Denna and Destin on Apr 30, 2007 at 06:47 PM
We attent church and are friends of Marinda's Aunt Ann. We just wanted you to know that our hearts go out to all of you and that you are in our prayers. May God keep and comfort you.

Posted by: Jennifer on Apr 30, 2007 at 03:13 PM
i just wanted to let both familys know that they are in my thoughts and prayers and shelby is in my prayers aswell. I dint know these people but i work a few days a week at the Lawrence Co court house and i heard alot about the two girls you all will be in my prayers

Posted by: Anna on Apr 30, 2007 at 02:48 PM
two great girls that are being missed more than words can say...they always had a small on their faces.. i love you and your families

Posted by: matt on Apr 30, 2007 at 02:24 PM
i would just like to thank all of you at wsaz for all of the honor and respect you have shown are community, thank you for airing so much about the girls, they would have appreciated that.

Posted by: Gena on Apr 30, 2007 at 01:05 PM
I had the honor and privilege of meeting Marinda little more than a year ago. I will always look back and remember her sweet sweet smile and just her joy for life and her love for her friends. Everytime I saw her she was so full of energy and seemed to be bouncing off the walls at times. Her smile was contagious and her love for her friends was real and deep. I never got to meet Kristi as she began attending the Louisa FBC Youth Group after I had moved from the area...but from what I have heard about her over the last week from the friends who loved her the deepest...I would have been honored to know her. These girls have left an impact in their families, in their school, and in their community. They will be sorely missed and I pray for all those who loved them and who will miss them. Marinda, sweetheart...I'm so glad to have met you and I'm so thrilled that I will be able to say with certainty that I will see you and Kristi again in heaven. I look forward to seeing the two of you and your smiles as you walk on the streets of gold! God bless you and RIP, girls.

Posted by: Shona on Apr 30, 2007 at 09:03 AM
My prayers go out to the families of Marinda and Kristi. May God touch you all and send you his comforter.

Posted by: DEEDEE @ WENDYS on Apr 30, 2007 at 07:17 AM
YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!! YOUR MEMORIES AND YOUR SMILE WILL ALWAYS REMAIN IN OUR MINDS AND OUR HEART. MAY GOD BLESS EACH OF YOUR FAMILIES AND BRING COMFORT TO THEM AT THIS TIME.FORVER LOVED KRISTI & MARINDA

Posted by: Mandy on Apr 30, 2007 at 02:18 AM
Our prayers are with the families and friends.

Posted by: Janet Dotson on Apr 30, 2007 at 12:36 AM
My sincere thoughts and prayers are with this entire community especially the families and friends of these two young girls may God bless you all.

Posted by: Lisa Strobel on Apr 29, 2007 at 09:43 PM
I would like to thank all of you at newschannel for the caring coverage during this horrible time. Not only have we lost to beautiful children with beautiful souls, but we all feel helpless in consoling Roberta, Jimmy and Lynn and their children. Many wonderful children in our town, like my son Matthew have had their hearts shattered. Their world is a little darker now.

Posted by: carol on Apr 29, 2007 at 08:57 PM
my prays go out to the parents,i have a son who was there friend ,he's having a really hard time. wondering,life is so unfair. god bless them.

Posted by: JIM &VERNA CHAPMAN on Apr 29, 2007 at 08:17 AM
OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU.

Posted by: lchs student on Apr 28, 2007 at 08:13 PM
every time i seen these two girls it was always them together and thier smiling faces, they were always having fun, it seemed to lonely this past few days, it seems like the school is empty they will be missed, i send my love and prayers out to all the family, rest in peace kristi and marinda it will never be the same without you both.

Posted by: amber on Apr 28, 2007 at 02:04 PM
Our prayers and sympathies go out to the families and friends of Marinda and Kristi. I m sure they were great girls, and were greatly loved by all who met them. This is such a tragedy, and we are praying for all involved.

Posted by: marindas aunt on Apr 28, 2007 at 11:46 AM
Jessica is so very right marinda wanted everyone to get her name right i will always love jimmy ,Lynn, marinda ,Andrew ,Jessica

Posted by: LCHS Student on Apr 28, 2007 at 11:43 AM
..School was a horrible day on 4/26/07 ..It seemed like everyone there shed a few tears..it was a big loss for everyone..I have never saw so many people cry at one time..almost the entire district of lawrence county schools was in mourning ...even the louisa middle school teachers shed more than one tear...but may i say this now..Ren & Kristi will be loved forever and always ..and i hope i will get to see them again

Posted by: Jessica on Apr 28, 2007 at 11:12 AM
Marinda and Kristi were two of the best people I knew. I don't understand why this had to happen to them. I have shed so many tears and I can't imagine what the close family's of these two girls are going through. My aunt was Marinda's aunt and my mom went to school with kristi's mom. I have known these girls all my life and I can't believe this. I love them and they will never be forgotten.

Posted by: Lakin on Apr 28, 2007 at 11:10 AM
my prayers go out to the families of these 2 young girls although i didnt know them personally only by word i know what it feels like to lose some one very close to you...i pray for their families and friends... R.I.P!!!!

Posted by: LCHS student on Apr 27, 2007 at 11:03 PM
Marinda and Kristi were the nicest people I have ever met. Marinda was my friend. I met her when I was in 7th grade and she was a freshman, we've been friends ever since. Kristi and I only talked a few times and she was really nice to me. My prayers go out to their families.

Posted by: marcia on Apr 27, 2007 at 10:33 PM
I worked with Kristi @ wendy's you will never find a more caring, sweet, or loveable person. She was one of a kind, the one thing that really stands out with Kristi was her beautiful smile. It lit up a room. Neither her nor Marinda will be forgotten, my prayers and thoughts with both families in their time of greatest loss.

Posted by: Jessica on Apr 27, 2007 at 09:58 PM
Marinda was one of my best friends and I'm having a really hard time coping with the loss of her and Kristi. I'm also having a hard time with everyone spelling her name "Miranda"... she would always freak out when someone did that, and I just really wish everyone would catch on and spell it right... anyone who reads this, please take this into consideration.

Posted by: PoPsIcLeS on Apr 27, 2007 at 08:24 PM
It is as if they are with everyone at school everywhere we go.....I'm not sure how to explain it, but I know they re still with us and they are in a great place now with God. We love them greatly and miss them greatly, but I also know that they are still with us no matter what. With love and prayers-MeGaN ReDsIcKeR

Posted by: Wilma on Apr 27, 2007 at 07:30 PM
I'm sorry gor the loss of the family and friends of the loved ones.I can't imagine what the loved ones must be going through.

Posted by: Jessica on Apr 27, 2007 at 06:34 PM
I was a good friend of Marinda and Kristi. I just don't understand why this had to happen to them. They were great people who you would never think of this happening to. I love both of them and they will never be forgotton. This community will never forget these to girls. My prayers are with the familys and friends of Marinda and Kristi. RIP girls.

Posted by: Sarah on Apr 27, 2007 at 06:22 PM
I love and miss Marinda and Kristi, they were two of my best friends. They were an inspiration to me and all of my friends. They were both so beautiful. I can't believe they're gone. I was with them just before it happened. This is so terrible. I miss them so much. I LOVE YOU RINDA AND KRIS! <3 Sarah

Posted by: Ellie Mae Thompson on Apr 27, 2007 at 03:19 PM
I attend LCHS and even though I didn't know either of them very well I will still miss them REST IN PEACE KRISTI & MARINDA

Posted by: Melanie on Apr 27, 2007 at 12:29 PM
Many prayers to the families of the girls coming from across the country. I'm from Louisa, my mom told me of the tragedy. May peace be with the families knowing their girls were loved my so many. God Bless

Posted by: George & Avanell on Apr 27, 2007 at 12:20 PM
Our Sympathy and Prayers are with the families of their lost loved ones and prayer for Shelby's healing. We know the pain you're feeling, we lost our 11 yr. old son killed instantly by a car in April, 1969. May God be your peace and comfort.

Posted by: Andrew on Apr 27, 2007 at 11:59 AM
The difference between the deaths of these girls and the deaths of others is, when someone dies people say all these nice things about them such as they never did anything wrong or the liked everybody, in most cases people say this out of hurt but i can truely say all that and more can be truefully said about these girls. They both were good girls, they were smiling a lot, the were and still are an inspiration and motivation for most everyone. They will always be remembered.

Posted by: Vickie on Apr 27, 2007 at 11:54 AM
I would like to send love and prayers to Jimmy, Lynn, Andrew, Jess, Bert and Shelby and their families. I did not really know Kristi but I knew Miranda all of her life and I loved her like family!! She was a very beautiful and a very sweet girl. I will miss seeing her and her beautiful smile. Which I know that alot of people feel the same way. I just want both families to know that we love them and they will always be in our thoughts!!!

Posted by: Leslie on Apr 27, 2007 at 09:51 AM
My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the two girls.

Posted by: kay on Apr 27, 2007 at 09:31 AM
I can't imagine the grief the parents of these two girls are feeling, i have only seen pictures of their smiling faces, I didn't know either. I have shed many tears, it could have been my daughter or anyones daughter, lives are taken away so quickly. I really just wanted to say "anything" to ease the pain, but i don't think i can, i'm so sorry for your loss.

Posted by: Rosa Belle Hughes on Apr 27, 2007 at 08:39 AM
they both were my classmates for the longest time.. i will never forget these two girls... i love them to death.. the school wont be the same...

Posted by: Joeletta on Apr 27, 2007 at 06:32 AM
I was a student with both of them. Marinda and I were In Band together we played trumpet. She also twirled a flag, band will never be the same!

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