Fatal accident that killed two students and injured another in Jefferson

Grief counselors were on hand at Ste. Genevieve High School Monday morning after a fatal accident that killed two students and injured another.

Authorities said the rollover accident occurred at 7:10 p.m. on southbound Interstate 55, just north of Highway 61, in Jefferson County. The car the teens were in went off the side of the roadway, hit a tree and flipped, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reports.

The driver, Danielle Pfaff, 17, was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger, Zoe Rhymer, 16, was flown to Mercy Hospital St. Louis. A hospital spokeswoman confirmed Monday morning that Rhymer has since died.

Another passenger, Miranda Brown, 15, had moderate injuries and was brought to a hospital.

Pfaff and Rhymer were juniors at Ste. Genevieve High School. Brown is a sophomore.

Superintendent Shelley Jokerst said a crisis counseling center has been set up in the high school library. All the district's counselors will be on hand, and additional resources from the community will be called in if necessary. Teachers and staff have also met for updated information and reminders on how to help grieving students.

"At the administration level and from the district as a whole, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all the girls," Jokerst said.

She said the focus right now is on the students.

"We will do everything we possibly can to take care of them," she said.