Grief counselors at two Evergreen schools after three students die over the weekend

Grief counselors are on site at two Evergreen district schools this morning after two unrelated accidents Friday night that claimed the lives of three district students, said Gail Spolar, spokeswoman at Evergreen Public Schools.

Two Mountain View High School students died in a high-speed car crash Friday night. William W. McCulloch, 17, was driving an Acura Integra with Shaun M. Hvass, 18, in the passenger seat. Around 9:45 p.m., the car crashed into a traffic pole on the west side of Northeast 136th Avenue and Fourth Street, with enough force to tear the car in two.

When police officers arrived, both teens were dead, according to the Vancouver Police Department.

Two girls from Orchards Elementary were hit by a car while trick-or-treating Halloween night. Cadence Boyer, 7, died Sunday at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland. An unidentified girl, 6, also was injured in the crash and is being treated at an area hospital. Her parents asked that her name not be released.

Cadence Boyer’s mother, Annie Arnold, 32, was listed in fair condition Monday at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. Another adult, Chelina Alsteen, 30, remained in critical condition at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. Friday night while trick-or-treating the four pedestrians were struck by a Ford Mustang that traveled onto the sidewalk along Northeast 112th Avenue in east Vancouver at about 8:20 p.m.

Police said the driver of the mustang, Duane Abbott, 47, was taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. His condition was not available and he was not yet listed in the Clark County Jail’s roster.

Vancouver police spokeswoman Kim Kapp said on Saturday that once he’s released from the hospital, Abbott will be booked in jail on four counts of vehicular assault. Following Cadence’s death, however, those charges will likely change.

This afternoon students from Orchards Elementary will carry home a letter letting families know about Cadence Boyer’s death and the presence of grief counselors at the school. A similar letter will be emailed to parents of Mountain View High School students.

This morning the schools made the announcements about the students’ deaths.

“We’re also supporting our staff at both schools. This is traumatic for students and staff,” Spolar said. “The counselors will be available for as long as they’re needed.”