3 Manvel High School students killed in Brazoria County crash

MANVEL, Texas – Grief counselors were on hand at Manvel High School Thursday after three students were killed in a fiery car crash.

The fatal crash happened about 2 p.m. Wednesday near County Road 89 at County Road 100.  When emergency crews arrived on scene, they found a burned car in a ditch.

The three teenagers inside the car were dead, all seniors at Manvel High School, were dead.

Sara Silvas of Clute, Texas, was a key member of the varsity softball team. This was her second year at Manvel High School; she previously attended Brazoswood High School. She was making plans to attend the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Josh Rodriguez of Pearland, Texas, played football and soccer for Manvel High School. He was described as enthusiastic, vibrant and athletic. He planned to attend the University of Houston with a major in engineering.

Zori Petrova of Pearland, Texas, was senior class president and she was also on the swim and tennis teams. Zori was described as a brilliant student with an outgoing, contagious personality. She was an integral member of the debate and academic decathlon teams. She was planning to attend, Texas A&M University.

Friends of the three students spoke to Local 2 on Thursday. 

"I try to not cry a lot, but I can't just not mourn over her, but she has never wanted me to be sad. Ever," Sarah Escobedo said. "[Sara] had texted me with 'I love you, I'm so glad you always had my back' about a day before that."

"There's nothing, no negative things we can say about Sara. She was just, she was one of us," said another friend, Gerry Guel. 

"It has been a really difficult thing to accept because these are the people I see on a daily basis, since I was in middle school," said Rostaffa Borneo, a senior at Manvel High School.

District spokesman Daniel Combs told Local 2 that grief counselors will be at the school as long as they're needed.

"We can't imagine what these families are going through and our hearts go out to them," Combs said.  "We care deeply for them."
 
Investigators are still trying to figure out the cause of the crash.  Trooper Stephen Woodard of the DPS said the driver, Rodriguez, was wearing a seat belt. Sara and Zori, the front and rear passengers, were not.

Manvel High School Principal Charlotte Liptack sent this letter to parents:

MHS Community,

Manvel High School is deeply saddened to share that a tragedy impacted our
campus family yesterday afternoon. Around 2 p.m., three Manvel High School
students were involved in a fatal car accident.  Sadly, the Texas Department of
Public Safety notified us this morning that seniors Sara Silvas, Joshua Rodriguez,
and Zornitsa Petrova passed away at the scene of the accident.

The Alvin ISD Crisis Response Team is currently on campus to provide assistance
to both students and staff.  Please be assured that the team will remain with
students and staff as long as a need exists.  We encourage you to speak with your
children this evening and reach out to the school if you need any assistance.  Our
counselors can be reached by calling 281-245-2232.

The Manvel High School community is a family that shows incredible support for
one another during trying times.  The three families need to know that we care, but
they also need privacy today and throughout the week.  Please keep them in your
thoughts and prayers, and please be there for each other. I know that we will get
through this difficult time together.