Church Mourns Teens Dead In Crash

PORTLAND

As families tried to make sense out of loss, about 700 mourners gathered to view the bodies of three Romanian-born teenagers killed in a car accident the day after Christmas.

"It's shocking," said Emil Evi, secretary at the Romanian Assembly of God Church. "We've never had anything like this happen in our congregation - and the timing of it."

A brass band played and a choir sang during a 2 1/2-hour open-casket service at the church Friday. The funerals will be held today.

The three victims, Simona Rachi, 16, and Lucian Cazac, 18, both of Vancouver, Wash., and Emanuel "Florin" Salar, 16, of Portland, apparently had been out Christmas caroling Wednesday night and decided to drive to the beach.

They were on their way back at about 6:30 a.m. Thursday when the car they were in went out of control and slid into oncoming traffic on Oregon Highway 26, about five miles northwest of Manning.

The driver of their car, Emanuel Covaciu, 16, of Portland, remained in critical condition in Emanuel Hospital & Health Center. The driver of the other car, Paul Klein, 32, of McMinnville, was in fair condition.

Witnesses told a state trooper that the car carrying the youths was traveling eastbound at about 80 miles an hour when it went out of control and slid into the westbound lane.

Toxicology tests were being conducted but speakers at the service denounced the suggestion that the youths were drinking.

"We know that's not the case. That's against our faith," Evi said. "We feel we are blackened by this."

Covaciu, a sophomore at Franklin High School, had received his driver's license only a week before the accident, Evi said.

Friends said the youths were the best of friends, always together.

Emanuel Salar's parents, Dragos and Silvia Salar, who operate an adult foster-care home, received their U.S. citizenship Dec. 16.

"He was a very good kid; he played in the band at the church - trumpet," said his older brother, Daniel. "He always was happy."