Community reeling after loss of six teens in car crash – Warren, OH school superintendent on how the town is coping

The town of Warren, Ohio is reeling from a tragic car crash that claimed the lives six teenagers Sunday. CNN has new details on the collision this morning.

Authorities now say the owner of the Honda Pilot involved in the crash has met with police and filed a stolen car report. Police say none of the teenagers involved in the accident are related to the owner or asked permission to use the vehicle. Five boys and a young woman, ages 14 to 19, were killed when the SUV flipped over a guard rail and landed in a small pond.

The tragedy has shaken the blue collar community of 41,000 near the Pennsylvania border. Michael Notar is the superintendent of schools for Warren City, Ohio. He has spoken to several family members and friends impacted by this and joins “Starting Point” to share how the community is coping.

Notar says the administration considered closing down the school district for Monday following the accident, but realized it was best to stay open. “We thought it was in the best interest of our students, our families, our parents, to open up our school buildings and provide our students, our teachers, and families with counseling services that were available,” he says.

Notar says it was a “very emotional day” at school yesterday. Some of the siblings of the victims decided to attend and opened up to teachers and friends. “It was good for everybody yesterday to be able to be around one another and support one another through the difficult times,” he says.

Notar says he knows Warren to come together in times of worship. The community has weathered its fair share of heartbreak, having faced a tragedy a year ago today. “We rallied together as a community, supported one another, and we'll continue to do so.”