The Ladue School District mourns the loss of three students

LADUE, Missouri — Ladue School District Superintendent Jim Wipke can’t imagine what the families of three teenagers who died in an accident earlier that morning are going through. He spoke to the families on Wednesday to offer them his condolences and let them know the district stands ready to offer support.

Three 15-year-old boys died in the accident.

According to investigators, the vehicle appeared to be traveling at high speed when the driver failed to negotiate a sharp bend on Groby Road in University City. The three teenagers were students at Ladue Horton Watkins High School.

“Our thoughts are with the families,” said Wipke.

As of Wednesday, the district had not identified the students out of respect for their families. Wipke wants the school community to know that grief counselors are available and that the district’s crisis intervention team will be on site throughout the week.

“We are here to support our families, we are here to support the friends of those who have lost their lives and we are doing everything we can to provide support,” Wipke said.

The principal hopes that everyone in the school community struggling with the loss will reach out to those who support them.

“We’re doing what we can to provide support,” Wipke said. He said support will continue for as long as necessary to ensure students are heard and have an opportunity to voice their thoughts.

Following Wednesday’s tragedy, the district released the following statement:

It is with deep sadness that we learned of the news that three of our high school students were involved in a fatal car accident this morning. While many details remain unclear about this heartbreaking incident, our hearts go out to our students’ families.

In response to this tragedy, grief counselors and our district crisis intervention team are on the ground to support our students and staff today and into the week ahead, as the well-being of our students and staff remains our top priority.