Girls Still Hospitalized After Crash

SANTA CLARITA —  Two teen-agers injured in a car accident that killed three of their friends remained hospitalized Friday, authorities said.

Barbara Du Bois, 14, was in critical condition at Northridge Hospital Medical Center with numerous broken bones and a punctured lung, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Alicia Acevedo, also 14, was upgraded from critical to serious condition Friday at the same hospital. She suffered a broken leg and a head injury.

On Wednesday night, the girls were riding in a car driven by Barbara’s sister, JoKema Du Bois, 15, who did not have a driver’s license. When JoKema lost control of the car on Seco Canyon Road, it struck two other vehicles.

JoKema, and passengers Gena Watkinson, 15, and 3 1/2-year-old Jesica Noell, were killed.

On Friday, crisis counselors were available for students at Canyon High School, where JoKema and Gena were freshmen. However, school officials said few students made use of them.

“Some of the kids came in to talk to counselors yesterday (Thursday), but not many today (Friday),” said Principal Mike Allmandinger. “The initial shock and trauma are over.”