Oregon school mourns four who died in crash in town's latest tragedy
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CLATSKANIE, Ore. -- The unmistakable voice of jazz great Louis Armstrong filled Room 212 at Clatskanie Middle High School - a tribute to journalism teacher Robert Christie, who died with his wife and two young sons in a car accident just west of town.
Senior Christina Brown remembered that Mr. Christie always had classic music - such as Armstrong's - playing in the classroom.
"He was really inspiring," she said Friday.
Mr. Christie and his wife, Denise, both 35, died Wednesday at the scene of the crash three miles west of town on Highway 30. Their boys - 17-month-old John and 8-year-old Ted - died at local hospitals.
The crash occurred when the Christies' car made a sudden turn across the highway and was struck on the passenger side by a pickup, whose driver suffered minor injuries, authorities say.
The family moved here from Eugene in September for Mr. Christie's first teaching job. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 1997 with a degree in English. He grew up in Astoria, Ore., where his parents still live, co-workers said.
Mr. Christie taught freshman and sophomore English and journalism, and revived the school newspaper, the Tiger Times. He also coached boys basketball through the Longview YMCA.
Mrs. Christie volunteered at Clatskanie Elementary School, where Ted was in second grade.
"They became part of the community in an extremely short time," said Pam Sellix, owner of Hump's Restaurant, where the family often had dinner.
"It's hard seeing such a productive family just disappear," substitute teacher Kris Lillich said Friday. "It's a shock for the community - another one."
Mr. Christie was the second Clatskanie teacher to die in just over a year. Former math teacher Bryan Linn died Nov. 16, 1999, from injuries suffered in a fall. And former Clatskanie student Brandon MacDonald, 18, drowned in June.
The school's students and staff say they weren't ready for another tragedy.
"We heard rumors, and we were just praying that it wasn't somebody we knew," said junior Cassy Brajcich, 16.
Both the elementary school and middle high school set up grief centers Friday to help children deal with the loss.