Van taking Canonsburg-area teens to outreach services crashes, killing 3 and injuring 3
Rhoda Malone
Breanne Africa
Faith Dowler
What should have been a trip by Canonsburg-area teenagers to share their faith and love of God with others at outreach services ended in tragedy Friday night on Interstate 79 near Bridgeport, W.Va., when the minivan in which they were traveling was hit by a box truck.
Killed in the crash were Rhoda Malone of Canonsburg, a church volunteer who was driving the van, and Breanna Africa, 17, of Canonsburg, and Faith Dowler, 16, of North Strabane Township. Three passengers in the van, Logan Malone, who was identified as Malone’s stepson, Rhianna Browell and McKenzie Molinaro, were taken for treatment to United Hospital Center in Clarksburg, W.Va. They were later released.
All but Faith were members of Champion Christian Center in Canonsburg. She was a member of Central Assembly of God in Chartiers Township. Breanna was a senior at Canon-McMillan High School. Faith’s Facebook page indicates she was a student at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center charter school.
Pastor Nathan Miller of Champion Christian Center said they were on their way to Festival of Life in Clarksburg. The festival is a series of outreach services for the community, he explained.
The van was going southbound about 6:15 p.m. near the Jerry Dove interchange when the northbound truck crossed the median, hitting the van, Lt. Mike Lemley of the Bridgeport police department said Saturday. The highway was closed until 2 a.m. Saturday. Lemley said no other information would be available until Monday.
McKenzie Molinaro, 14, of Washington, said the group had just gotten back on the highway after a fuel stop. She said she looked down and when she looked back up, the truck was coming at them before hitting the van head-on.
“The van was moving and shaking,” said the freshman at Faith Christian Academy. “I blacked out, and when I woke up, I jumped out of the van.”
She said medical personnel sat her down and put a towel over the large cut over the right side of her eye.
Colette Molinaro said “it was the worst call you could ever get” when she and her husband learned of the crash. They raced to the hospital where their daughter was being treated.
Tears were shed Saturday afternoon as members of both congregations gathered at the Canonsburg church to pray and comfort each other.
Pastor Kurt Jenkins said it was important for both congregations to grieve together.
“We are broken as a large family so we wanted to support each other,” Jenkins said. “We wanted to show a sign of unity in this tragedy.”
Miller said Malone is survived by her husband, Rob, their daughter, Irene, and her two stepsons, Logan and Graham Malone. The family was very involved in several ministries at the church and were very faithful, the pastor added.
Miller posted a notice on the church’s Facebook page Saturday, detailing what happened and asking the church family to keep the families of those involved in their prayers. He said the church at 110 Belmont Ave. will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. for anyone who would like to pray or speak with a counselor.
GoFundMe accounts have been set up to assist the families with funeral expenses. Miller said donations for the Malone and Africa families can also be sent to the church or made on the church’s website at championcenter.net.