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School District Mourns Student’s Death

PINE GROVE – Students, staff and family members are mourning the unexpected death of a 17-year-old high school student. Pine Grove Area High School studen...

PINE GROVE - Students, staff and family members are mourning the unexpected death of a 17-year-old high school student.

Pine Grove Area High School students stand huddled and try to cope with the death of their friend, 17-year-old Samantha Lengel. The junior died after being hospitalized for nearly two days.

According to police, Samantha was leaving school for the day and for some reason she got to her car and collapsed. Emergency crews were called and they worked on her.  She was then flown to Hershey Medical Center by helicopter .

Brian Uplinger, the superintendent of schools said grief counselors were busy in the school.

"How could a family deal with this situation? How could parents get past this type of tragedy, I don't know," Uplinger said.

Athletic Director Scott Dimon said Samantha loved to play softball and excelled at basketball.

"We talked to the family and we have a basketball game tonight and we asked them their thoughts. In family fashion, Sam would want the game played and Sam would want us to win and that's the kind of kid she was," Dimon said.

Parent Tina Shutt said word of Samantha's death is spreading.

"I think it's very terrible. I said with her being so young, I think Pine Grove is taking it hard with it," she added.

The Dauphin County Coroner's Office says it's unclear why Samantha died. Scott Dimon said the school district needs answers so the healing can begin.

" It`s not fair, it`s not right it's not natural and that`s what we are going through. We don't have answers, we just have questions."

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