Friends, family to mark 3rd anniversary of teens' death

[February 12, 2011]  Friends and family plan to celebrate the lives of four teens, killed three years ago, with a memorial service on Saturday. The memorial has been held each year since the tragic crash to remember their loved ones and as a reminder to drive safely.

Chris McGlasson, 19, of rural Middletown; Katherine "Katie" Carpentier, 15, of Lincoln; Katelyn "Katie" McCarty, 19, of Taylorville; and Ross Conrady, 18, of rural Elkhart lost their lives when the truck they were in hit a tree on Feb. 15, 2008. Two additional passengers, Clark Schoonover and Zachary Rickord, survived. Four crosses now mark the site in the 200 block of 1300th Street in Logan County, known locally as Polecat Hill.

The event has been primarily organized through a Facebook page, "Muddin' for Buds." Those interested in taking part in the procession should meet at the Big R parking lot, 1250 Woodlawn Road in Lincoln, by 2:30 p.m. Saturday. The caravan will leave for the crash site at 3 p.m. The memorial service will be at 3:30 p.m.

Earlier this year legislation was introduced in the Illinois General Assembly to curb excessive speeding. Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said one of the incidents that prompted the bill was this crash in Logan County. Gov. Quinn signed the bill in July. The law was named "Chris and Katie's Law" after McGlasson, Carpentier and McCarty.

[Text from file received]