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Teen Snowboarder, Track Member Killed In Rt. 19 Crash

Posted: 10:12 pm EST November 14, 2008Updated: 6:33 pm EST November 17, 2008

Seneca Valley High School and Shaler Area High School students and faculty are in mourning after two students were killed in a Route 19 car crash Friday night.

At Seneca Valley, the students are wearing white bandanas in memory of Charles Stunkard, 17, who died in the head-on collision.

“I understand Charlie was an avid snowboarder and liked to wear bandanas,” said Linda Andreassi, of the Seneca Valley School District. “This was a tribute to him.”

Stunkard's school will dedicate a page in this year's yearbook to him.

Jessy Peluso, 17, was in the car with Stunkard and died at the scene of the crash. She was a junior at Shaler Area High School and a member of the school’s track team.

“Jessy was very academic and committed,” said Shaler track coach David Interhal. “She brought life and personality to our team.”

"It's very quiet, somber," said Shaler principal William Suit. "It's different today than it has been the last few weeks of school. Very quiet in the hallways."

Grief counselors are available for students at both schools to assist in dealing with the tragedy of their deaths.

Funeral services have been scheduled for both students.

Friends of Peluso will be received at the Kyper Funeral Home in Glenshaw from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, with services to be held on Wednesday.

Friends of Stunkard will be received at the Devlin Funeral Home in Cranberry at 10 a.m. on Tuesday until the time of a blessing service at 11 a.m.

The crash happened on Route 19 near Progress Avenue at about 9 p.m. on Friday, police said.

Police said a car operated by Stunkard crossed the center line on Route 19 and collided with a SUV. Peluso was a passenger in the car.

The driver of the SUV, Charles Rocha, of Cranberry Township, was transported to Allegheny General Hospital for treatment.

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