Friends, family to mark 4th anniversary of teens' deaths

[February 10, 2012]  With a memorial service on Sunday, friends and family plan to celebrate the lives of four teens killed four years ago. There has been a memorial observance each year since the tragic crash to remember their loved ones and serve as a reminder to drive safely.

The four who lost their lives when the truck they were in hit a tree on Feb. 15, 2008, were 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. 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. A new 12-foot white cross will be erected prior to the memorial service.

The memorial 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 at 1250 Woodlawn Road, Lincoln, by 1:30 p.m. Sunday. The caravan will leave for the crash site at 2 p.m. for the memorial service, to begin at approximately 2:30. For additional information, call 217-671-7959 or message the Facebook page.

In an effort to bring healing and leave a lasting impact, donations will be taken at the event to create a memorial fund. The fund will then provide an annual gift in the teens' names to the community.

In July 2010, Gov. Quinn signed Public Act 96-1002, legislation intended to curb excessive speeding. The law was named "Chris and Katie’s Law" after McGlasson, Carpentier and McCarty.

[Text from file received]