CONIFER — Conifer High School students spent part of their first day back from the holiday break mourning the deaths of two classmates who were killed in a three-car accident on U.S. 285 Tuesday night.
“Conifer High School is a very tight- knit school, and that is a very tight-knit community,” said Jefferson County Public Schools spokeswoman Lynn Setzer.
Colorado State Trooper David Hall said a 1995 Honda Civic, driven by Kenneth Paul Barnett, 16, of Evergreen, went out of control in the northbound lanes of the highway just after 7 p.m., crossed the center line and was struck by a Buick Rainier sport utility vehicle. The Honda began to spin and then was struck by a Dodge Ram.
The dead were identified as Barnett and Mara C. Parslow, 16, of Morrison, both juniors at Conifer High. Both were wearing seat belts.
Barnett’s brother, Austin L. Barnett, 18, of Evergreen, was an unrestrained passenger in the back seat of the Honda. He suffered moderate injuries in the collision and was listed in fair condition at St. Anthony Central Hospital. He also is a junior at Conifer High.
“It’s a tragedy,” school principal Michael Musick said. “A worst nightmare for any parent and principal. We’re working through a lot of emotions. It’s hard for community, for staff, and hard for my kids.”
Musick said the three teens in the car were close friends. The Barnett brothers, who were also enrolled at Warren Technical School, had moved to the district from Oklahoma a few years ago. He recalled Parslow often stuck her head in his office to say “Hi.”
Adam Estepp, a youth pastor who worked with the Barnett brothers at Journey Community Church, spoke at the school Wednesday afternoon.
“Both are great kids,” Estepp said. “They were incredibly funny.”
He said Austin was more outspoken, with Kenneth being more reserved and quiet until you got to know him. The brothers were active in the youth group of about 30 teens.
“We suffered so much loss,” Estepp said.
Tom Dimler, 42, who was driving the truck that hit the passenger side of the Civic, said he had been headed uphill about a mile north of Pine Junction when he saw the Honda cross the center line and hit the Buick.
“There was no time to hit the brake or swerve,” Dimler recalled.
Dimler said his memory is that when the Honda smashed into him, his Dodge Ram went over the top of the Honda and then rolled.
His pickup landed on its side, and his seat belt wouldn’t release. He said someone cut the seat belt with a knife and he then kicked out a window to get out of the truck.
He said shortly after he got out, paramedics told him there were two dead people in the Honda and they were working on a third person, who was still alive.
“You couldn’t even tell it was a car,” Dimler said of what was left of the Honda.
The Buick’s driver, Kylee J. Taylor, 20, of Bailey, was uninjured. Dimler suffered minor injuries.
Hall, the state trooper, said it is not known whether alcohol or drugs played a role in the accident. Weather is not believed to have been a factor.
The crash and subsequent investigation closed U.S. 285 for about five hours.
