HILLSBORO, Mo. – A community is mourning the loss of two young women, who died in a car accident Monday evening.
One of the victims is Gevevieve Brown, 19, from Festus. Warsha Kumar, 18, from Washington state also died. A third passenger was not seriously injured.
The accident happened Monday around 6 p.m. on Route A near Business 21. Missouri Highway patrol Cpl. Justin Wheetley said Brown, Kumar and a third passenger were in a Land Rover. They had mechanical problems, and the driver did a U-turn. The Land Rover was partially on the road and partially on the shoulder.
Brown and Kumar were outside of the Land Rover when the driver of a Jeep, an 84-year-old woman, hit the Land Rover. The Land Rover struck the two women, and the impact killed them.
Brown graduated from Hillsboro High School in May. She had recently joined the Army Reserves.
“She was a good friend, especially in junior high, always goofing around. Didn't seem like she had a care in the world. She was always there to make you smile, make anyone smile,” said Allison Cauley, a friend of Brown.
Another classmate and friend, Miranda Turberville, said it has been a tough few months.
“It was hard to believe and hard to understand. It's the third person from our graduating class, someone so young,” Turberville said.
Hillsboro School Superintendent Aaron Cornman said trauma counselors are available for students.
The Missouri Highway Patrol is still investigating the accident, but Cpl. Wheetley said the driver of the Jeep has not been charged, and there is no evidence of negligence.
