Community gathers to remember teens

CLARENCE, NY (WIVB) - Western New York families look to each other for support after the tragedy in Clarence Sunday night.

Friday night, a community united to support the families of six local teens, including four who died in Sunday's tragic Clarence crash.

Yesterday, we got our first look at the 2002 Nissan Sentra they were riding in when they collided with a van at the corner of Strickler and County roads in Clarence.

You could hear the gasps yesterday as police announced just how fast the car was going when it blew through a stop sign.

"The '02 Nissan was at a speed of 90 miles per hour," said Erie County Sheriff Sgt. Scott Joslyn.

But last night, it was a time for support and healing as loved ones came together at St. Gregory the Great Church.

The reality is still just setting in for more than 300 teens and young adults who came to the prayer service.

They will never again see their friends smile and they will never again hear their voices.

Viktor Shapiro, Mark Brown, Amanda Slisz, and Megan Schnorr died in the Clarence car crash. Amherst teen Chelsea Oliver died from several illnesses and Clarence teen Jake Herbert was stabbed last weekend outside a Halloween party in Buffalo.

"We wanted to give young people a place to gather we just recognize some of them are in pain they're confused they're hurting and we wanted to just open up the doors to the church," said Eileen Warner, director of Pastoral Ministry of St. Gregory The Great.

She also knew one of the victims who died in the Clarence car crash.

"It's always hard anytime you see young people hurting, when you see a mother a father grieving the loss of a young child you see all the rest of the people in the community cherishing their children," continued Warner.

Friday night's prayer service was about cherishing the memories of the six victims.

The youth minister read heartfelt words their friends have spoken about their friends who are now gone, "You were a great kid so full of life and energy may angels keep you you were the best thing to happen to me I love you and always will."

In the midst of their tears they sang and consoled one another trying to remember that even though their friends are no longer here, they will always remain in their hearts.