The accident occurred around 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28, resulting in the death of driver Paje Heindl, 18, of Verona. King, who had just turned 17, died at Miami Valley Hospital at 5:28 p.m. on Sunday. King’s cause of death is multiple blunt force injuries and manner of death is accident, according to Montgomery County Coroner’s Office. Heindl’s cause of death was listed as still pending on Tuesday.
Heindl graduated in May from Tri-County High School and King, a Brookville resident, was a senior at Brookville High School.
“We donated her heart, her lungs, her liver, her kidneys,” said James King, Emily’s father, after a vigil that took place in Brookville on Monday night.
Two other passengers Shannon Foster, 18, and Nathan Mowen, 17, were taken to Miami Valley Hospital. Foster was listed in serious condition on Tuesday afternoon.
Mowen’s mother Debby Mowen told a WHIO-TV reporter via a social media posting that her son, a Dixie High School junior, is in critical condition and improving.
“Nathan was even able to give a “thumbs up” to the doctor upon request. We know that he still has a long way to go but we’re very happy with how far he’s come,” Debby Mowen said. The posting continued: “We continue praying every day and know that God will see him through this. I would personally like to thank everyone who has been praying and sending well wishes! Updates regarding Nathan’s progress may be found on our facebook page: Prayers For Nathan.”
The Dayton Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is handling the investigation.
There is no indication that alcohol or drugs played a role in the crash, but that is a part of the investigation.
The four teens were headed to King’s house, which is a a quarter of a mile away from the crash site, according to James King.
He said his daughter worked at McDonald’s in New Lebanon with Mowen and has known Foster, who is also a senior at Brookville High School, since they were young. He wasn’t sure how his daughter knew Heindl.
He added that the girls spent the night at King’s house on Thursday night.
“They were going to our house. I don’t know what for,” said James King. “Our son saw the smoke and he drove down there and that’s when he recognized the car.”
King added that he hopes other teens will heed the warning about slowing down when behind the driver’s seat.
“If some other teenagers hear this maybe they’ll think before they do something stupid and it cost two lives,” King said.
Funeral services for Paje Heindl are set for 7 p.m. Thursday at Lewisburg United Methodist Church, 3147 US - 40 in Lewisburg. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. that same day.
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