Beau Dodson Photograph…

News Channel Six Story

http://www.wpsdtv.com/mostpopular/story.aspx?content_id=7b30d66f-f118-46ae-b741-d73c5ad372dd

A community is in mourning over the loss of two teenagers.

17 year old Joshua Woods and 14 year old McKenzee Castaneda, both from Metropolis, Illinois, were killed over the weekend in a car crash.

Police say the car Woods was driving pulled into the path of a truck on Powers Church Road and Highway 145 in Massac County Saturday evening.

A third passenger in the car, 16 year old Jordan Pannell was taken to the hospital and is listed in stable condition.

Friends and family say the two young athletes were already looking forward to the coming school year.

Softball was a big part of the lives of McKenzee Castaneda and her friends since the time they were in second grade. Madison Stephens says teammates relied on McKenzee’s batting skills.

Her friends hoped bigger games were ahead.

“We were ready for high school.  We were going to go at it all of us together, but I know she’s going to be still cheering us on up there when we’re in high school.  We’re gonna miss our cleanup hitter,” said Stephens.

Another team grieves for Joshua Woods.  His football coach called a team meeting this morning.

“It is very sad when a person has their whole life ahead of them,” said Coach Glass.

 Coach Glass mentored Joshua for three years.  He says the reason he coaches is to have the opportunity to know players like him.

Friends have marked the crash site with flowers and crosses and a placard for McKenzee remembering her eyes and her smile. Another type of memorial is in the works.  Madison and her teammates are organizing one last softball game after McKenzee’s funeral dedicated to their friend.

“We’re going to try to keep our spirits up like she was there.  It’s going to be really bad, upsetting to play but hopefully not too bad,” said Stephens.

“We’ve all been here together for a long time, and that’s a very true phenomenon here at Massac.  We win together, and we lose together, and we hurt together, and that’s what’s going on right now,” said Coach Glass.

A Castaneda family friend is handling funeral arrangements at Pyle Funeral Home in Johnston City.

Visitation will be at the Brookport Church of God from 5 to 9pm Tuesday night. The funeral service is at 1pm Wednesday at the church.

McKenzee will be buried in Otterbein Cemetery in Pope County. Memorials may be sent to the Brookport Church of God youth group.

Funeral arrangements for Joshua Woods are still being finalized.

  We went out to eat last night with several friends.  Today was spent getting shots for Africa and running errands.  We had lunch with dinner.  A low key day I suppose.  It was HOT outside!  We ended up with a few rain showers and thunderstorms.

  Here are pictures of Joey with his cake:

Community Mourns Teens Killed in Car Crash

 
news Channel Six Photograph

METROPOLIS– Two young athletes are killed after a car crash in Massac County.

Police say 14 year-old McKenzee Castaneda and 17 year-old Josh Woods died, after the car they were in collided with another vehicle.

It happened Saturday night on route 145, just outside of Metropolis.

Police say there are no indications that alcohol played a part in this crash. Actually, they say it’s not clear why Josh Woods pulled his car out in front of another car–leading to the accident

Both Woods and Castaneda were budding young athletes.

McKenzee Castaneda was a popular girl who had a knack for sports.

"She was an excellent setter as far as volleyball goes, but she was multi-talented" says Zach MillerI. "I believe she played short-stop on the softball team and they got second in the state."

Her volley-ball coach Zach Miller says he found out about her death from other girls on the team– all of them torn up over this loss.

"A few of my volleyball players gave me a call and just let me know. Obviously they were in tears and hurt by it" says Miller.

Players on the Massac County foot-ball team are also mourning the loss of one of their own- Josh Woods.

"We met with the team Monday morning at 8:30" says football coach Kelly Glass. "Of course that was the question- Why coach? Or what do we do now coach?"

Josh Woods wore jersey number 55. His coach says he wasn’t the type of player who you’d hear about in the news for making touchdowns, but he was a team player

"He was a line-backer. He played defense. The neat thing about football is you need a bunch of kids like that too."

At the scene of the accident on 145, members of the community have placed crosses in remembrance of the two teens killed.

It could be a while before this city moves on.

"Every time we take the court, we’re always going to remember and always wonder" says Miller.

There was another teen in the car driven by Woods– 16 year-old Jordan Pennell. We’re told he received major injuries and was taken to a hospital in Cape Girardeau. No word on his condition.

The driver of the second car– 28 year-old Colin Smith– received only minor injuries.

A visitation is scheduled for Castaneda at the Brookport Church of God Tuesday night from five to nine.
The funeral is at one on Wednesday also at the church.

Arrangements have not yet been made for Josh Woods. We’re told that’s because he is an organ donor.