FAMILY, FRIENDS MOURN PASSING OF `FAST FRIENDS'

They were fast friends. Two dancers and a singer. Spirited, poised young women on the verge of adult-hood, all of life open before them.

That's how friends and family say they'll remember Jennifer Neddo, 16, and Elizabeth Phillips, 15. The two girls died early Thursday after they were struck by a vehicle (see story on A2).A third girl, Jaimie Cogswell, also 16, remained hospitalized Friday in serious condition, suffering from multiple injuries.

"It's really hard to understand why it happens and how Jaimie came out so lucky and why Jen and Liz died," said Don Cogswell, Jaimie's father. "Those girls were in my house several times a week for extended periods of time. I'll miss them a lot."

The three girls were walking to a friend's house shortly after midnight on Thursday when they were hit. The car, driven by Laramie J. Huntzinger, 16, jumped a curve on Hollow Mill Road and struck the girls. The car careened through a fence at the home of Paul and Sherrie Kasteler, 6736 S. Benecia Drive (2710 East).

Thursday afternoon, the broken fence was gone and the shredded flower patch was smoothed back in place. Neighbors gathered at the Kastelers' home earlier to help restore the yard that was the scene of so much carnage.

In this neighborhood, the sense of community is strong. A steady stream of vehicles passed by the home, looks of disbelief and horror on the faces of many passers-by.

On the Kastelers' patio, two bouquets of white daisies and baby's breath bound by pink bows marked the spot where the two girls died hours earlier.

"Something like that can not happen and there not be some mark," said Terry Drip, who brought the bouquets to pay tribute to the girls.

Liz, Jennifer and Jaimie were "good school chums" who did a lot of things together.

On Wednesday, the three girls went to Brighton High School to register for their junior year, take school pictures and choose lockers. That night they gathered at Liz's house for a sleepover.

Jennifer Neddo was a reserved teenager who didn't seek the limelight but was someone whose grace and talent attracted friends, said Kent O. Nate, bishop of the Cottonwood Heights Fourth Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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