By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Niles Daily Star
EDWARDSBURG - Tragedy struck the Edwardsburg community Tuesday morning as families began their morning routine.
An apparent misjudgment on the part of a young driver ended in her death and injured her passenger, Samantha M. Schlutt.
Ashley M. Qualls, 16, who died in the accident, was driving westbound on U.S. 12 near Eagle Lake Road at about 6:49 a.m. Tuesday, when she attempted to pass a semi-tractor trailer, police say.
A pickup truck, driven by Brian Donath, was traveling eastbound on U.S. 12.
Donath attempted to avoid being hit by the Qualls' vehicle, but his truck was struck in the driver's side.
Donath and Schlutt, Qualls' passenger, were taken to Elkhart (Ind.) General Hospital.
Schlutt remained in serious but stable condition at press time. Ontwa Township/Edwardsburg Police Department is investigating the accident. Drugs and intoxicating liquor are not considered to be a factor in the accident at this time, police say.
Upon learning of the accident, the Edwardsburg School administration immediately began preparing how to tell and comfort the students, putting their crisis team in place.
The students were assembled that afternoon.
"This is never easy. I have had my share," Ostrander said of student deaths, "five or six as principal.
"It is always difficult. We as parents understand this is not in the order of things to lose a child. We are here to support the students…. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to the parents," he said.
Qualls, a sophomore at Edwardsburg High School was Homecoming Queen her freshman year.