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Staunton community remembers 3 young women killed in crash

Hailey and Madisen Bertels, along with their friend Tori Carroll, were in the same car on Interstate 55 last week, when a semi-truck slammed into their car.

STAUNTON, Ill. — There was standing room only at St. Paul United Church of Christ in one Illinois community Thursday night as hundreds filled the pews to remember three young women killed in a crash.

Hailey and Madisen Bertels, along with their friend Tori Carroll, were in the same car on Interstate 55 last week, when a semi-truck slammed into their car. Both Bertels sisters died at the scene. Carroll later died at the hospital last Thursday.

MORE | Sisters, MSSU students killed in Madison County crash, 12 injured

“They were like a comedy routine together, you could not be around them without being, like, doubled over laughing,” said Tylie Stamer, youth group chaperone of the trio.

Even without the girls, there was still some laughter at the vigil. Breaking up tearful memories, friends told stories of teenage mischief.

They also vowed to support the young women’s families.

“You may have lost daughters, but you have eight, ten more. You do,” one friend said.

The crowd’s support brought the Bertels’ father to tears.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart and my family’s heart. I never knew how many hearts my daughters have touched, man, and obviously they’ve touched a lot,” Dean Bertels said.

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