FDHS Mourns Student's Death
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Updated: 10:05 AM Oct 15, 2009
FDHS Mourns Student's Death
Fort Defiance, Va.
The Fort Defiance High School student who crashed her car Monday has died.
Posted: 1:01 PM Oct 14, 2009
Reporter: Lorilee Victorino
Email Address: lvictorino@whsv.com
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The Fort Defiance High School student who crashed her car Monday has died.

Wednesday was a tough day for students at FDHS. For seniors, Angela Kania's death is the fourth they had to deal with in four years.

Kania should be taking her PSATs and celebrating homecoming activities, but, shortly after midnight, she died from injuries sustained in the crash on Dam Town Road.

Senior Ashley Norris would see Kania in the halls and says she always had a smiling face.

"I feel like this can happen to any of us. I feel like we need to be careful, in everything that we do," says Norris.

School officials at FDHS had extra grief councilors and psychologists on hand to comfort students.

Ann McMillan says even the counselors and teachers have been choked up about Kania's passing.

"Usually teachers are the first line of defense, and they see the students in their classes who are having a really, extra hard time. Sometimes they send students down here and sometimes they talk with them in their class," says McMillan, FDHS guidance counselor.

With PSATs and homecoming, Principal Larry Landes says word of Kania's death brought students and faculty a mixed bag of emotions.

"It's the whole smorgasbord of emotions all piled together, and when you deal with kids, that's what you deal with, individual kids and their opportunities and crisis, and schoolwide, " says Landes.

In the four years Landes has been principal at the school, he and many of the seniors have experienced the deaths of four students.

Senior Kristyn Norder says these deaths have made her high school year tough.

"Every year, it happens and you know we have to go through this every single time, and it hasn't really hit us yet, but it really sucks to have this happen again," says Norder.

The school will be holding a memorial for Kania. Landes says it will be a celebration of her life.


Latest Comments

Posted by: Bowen Family Location: Midlothian, VA on Oct 15, 2009 at 06:55 AM

We loved Angela like a daughter. She was Kaitlyn's first childhood friend and spent a lot of time at our house when we lived in Verona. We are absolutely heartbroken by the news and have been grieving for days. Cathy, our prayers have been continual for you and your family. Kaitlyn received a locket for her 16th birthday and we are putting a photo of her & Angela inside it. Even though we are here in Richmond our hearts are there with you. Heaven has gained an angel. Angela, we love and will miss you.
Posted by: Lynn Location: Lynchburg, va on Oct 15, 2009 at 12:22 AM

I never can imagine that so many young people are departing this life. I travel sometimes on Dam Town Road to Fort Defiance and marvel at Gods Creation. But at the same time I reflect and meditate of how we lost two good students from FDHS. To the Kania family, I didn't really know Angela that well except if I am at the school getting ready to do stuff with the athletic program. But I pray that the Holy Spirit would confort you in this trying time.
Posted by: shs student Location: elkton on Oct 14, 2009 at 09:05 PM

my prayers goes out to the school and all her friends and family
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