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Three Utah County teens who were struck in a train accident this weekend were described as "sweet, wonderful girls having a good time" by a grandmother who was mourning the fatal crash.
"They just loved nature, and they were taking pictures of fall," said Karen Webster, grandmother of Kelsea and Savannah Webster, who were with friend Essa Ricker when all three were struck by two trains passing each other Saturday night in Spanish Fork Canyon.
Ricker and Kelsea Webster, both 15, died at the scene near the mouth of Covered Bridge Canyon, where the girls lived. Savannah Webster, 13, remained in "extremely critical" condition Sunday night at Primary Children's Medical Center, said Utah County sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Cannon.
The girls were standing between two railroad tracks about 6:40 p.m. near the Covered Bridge Canyon crossing and State Route 6 in Spanish Fork Canyon when a westbound Utah Railway train passed closely by.
"They were watching the train, waving to the [engineer] as he went by," Karen Webster said.
But then a Union Pacific train came from the opposite direction. The eastbound engineer sounded the train horn but could not get the girls' attention, Cannon said. As the trains passed around them, the three teens apparently lost their balance —possibly in the wind — and fell against one train, which knocked them into the other.
Savannah Webster was screaming when responders arrived, Cannon said — a hopeful sign that she may survive, Cannon said.
"It's tragic what's happened, but the fact that she was responsive, as hard as it is to see, we're waiting and hoping that things turn out for her," Cannon said.
Doctors on Sunday said her life was still in danger, but her condition was stabilizing. Karen Webster said Savannah was "doing better than they thought she would" and had undergone surgery during the day. She likely will stay in a medically-induced coma for at least another day, her grandmother said.
Meanwhile, the deaths of Kelsea Webster and Essa Ricker devastated family and friends in Spanish Fork. Kelsea and Savannah Webster moved to the Covered Bridge neighborhood from Sonoma, Calif., about 6 months ago and quickly became friends with Ricker.
"They were three peas in a pod," Karen Webster said. The girls went to girls camp and sang in choir together, Webster said. Ricker and Savannah Webster attended Diamond Fork Junior High, and Kelsea Webster attended Maple Mountain High School, according to their pages on Facebook. Nebo School District plans to have grief counselors on hand Monday, Cannon said.
Meanwhile, students at Diamond Fork organized a "Best Dress for Essa and Kelsea" event, urging their classmates to wear their nicest clothes Monday in the girls' honor.
"They are very intelligent girls," said friend Dylan Simons, who was especially close friends with Essa. "Everybody will miss her. It will be so hard to not see her at school or anywhere."
Union Pacific spokesman Aaron Hunt said the eastbound engineer train tried to stop when the operator saw the girls on the tracks but was unable to do so.
The accident, Hunt said, serves as reminder to stay away from tracks except when crossing and even then to be careful.
"It goes without saying, but it's a very somber reminder that railroad tracks are very dangerous," he said.