North Star School District is in mourning this weekend after one of its students was killed in an automobile accident in Laughlintown on Friday night.
John A. Blough, 15, of Hollsopple, a freshman at North Star High School, died as a result of an apparent three-car accident.
Ligonier Township police are investigating the accident. The department did not release details on Saturday, only issuing a statement that state police reconstructionists are examining a fatal vehicle accident on Route 30 in Laughlintown.
Joseph A. Bradley, principal at North Star High School, said it was his understanding that Blough was a passenger in the rear seat of a car that was stopped behind another vehicle at a traffic light. According to Bradley, the vehicle in which Blough was riding was struck from behind by a third vehicle.
The condition of the passengers in the other vehicles was not known.
A call to the Westmoreland County district attorney’s office seeking more details was not returned.
Bradley described the loss as a tragedy for the entire district.
He said that Blough, a football player and wrestler at the school, was a popular student with a bright future.
“He showed a lot of leadership potential,” Bradley said. “He was well liked by his peers in the ninth grade.
“He was a popular kid with just about everybody. He was friends with kids both younger and older and across all of the social circles.”
Bradley said the district activated its student assistance team on Saturday morning to deal with the tragedy. He said counselors from Somerset Mental Health will be at both the high school and middle school when students arrive on Monday to help Blough’s peers and friends to deal with the loss.
“You never have a course on how to deal with something like this,” Bradley said. “We try to put our teachers in a place where they can help the students with the grief they’re dealing with.”
The school district on Saturday postponed a parade to honor the accomplishments of its winter sports teams and celebrate the beginning of the spring sports season. No new date was announced.
Local News
Related Photos
-
John Blough Submitted Photo
Discussion
Teen killed in crash
- Local News
-
-
Proposed bill would expand use of traffic-light cameras
Some call it the hand of “big brother,” others are convinced cameras at signal lights would be effective in curbing red-light runners and ultimately saving lives.
-
Minister's trial date set
An issue has been resolved over the report from an examination of a girl allegedly taken by her mother to a Bedford motel to have sex with a traveling minister, clearing the way for a trial.
-
AP: Almost half of new veterans seek disability
America’s newest veterans are filing for disability benefits at a historic rate, claiming to be the most medically and mentally troubled generation of former troops the nation has ever seen.
-
Geistown beginning crime watch program
Residents will patrol Geistown streets in the coming weeks as part of a community watch program.
-
Persons of the Week: Nanty Glo vets will remember fallen comrades
Michael Kurtz, Tom Kasecky and Steve Kasecky will be among members of the Loy A. Douglass Post 3489 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Nanty Glo who will be honoring fallen veterans today, Memorial Day.
-
AG candidates face potential conflicts of interest
Both candidates for Pennsylvania attorney general have family ties that could pose a conflict of interest for the one who is elected as the state’s next chief legal officer.
-
Lawmakers: Capitol rallies unpersuasive
Nancy Richey stepped to the podium with a microphone at the Capitol rotunda with the hope that the right people would hear her message.
-
Richland closer to new chief
The search for Richland’s next police chief is winding down.
-
In brief: Thunderstorm downs trees, knocks out power
A late Sunday afternoon thunderstorm brought high winds, hard rain and hail to the Cambria-Somerset region.
- District Deaths May 28, 2012
- More Local News Headlines
-
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
