Lee County H.S. Students Cope With Tragedies

Student Allison Woodcock, 16, died in a car crash late Monday afternoon at the intersection of Swann Station and Frank Wicker Roads.

Woodcock's mother, who was driving the car, hit a truck after apparently failing to stop at a stop sign. She is hospitalized in serious condition at UNC Hospitals. The truck driver, Richard Hickman, was treated and released from Duke.

Two hours later, classmates Patrick Stamey and Stuart Womack were seriously injured when the car Womack was driving lost control on a curve on Buckhorn Road, hitting a tree.

Stamey is in fair condition at UNC Hospitals; Womack is in serious condition at Duke.

School counselors are trying to help students cope.

"When you start trying to deal with it as counselors and administrators, the most important thing you can do is listen," says Principal Steve Hodgin.

Two other students from Lee County High School have died in crashes this school year. In August, Priscilla Edwards died; 1999 graduate Blake Womack died in September.

Blake Womack and Stuart Womack are not related.

Allison Woodcock's funeral is scheduled for Thursday at 4 p.m. at Grace Christian Church in Sanford.