LOCAL NEWS: Funerals Set for Three of the Railroad Crash Victims

BRUNSWICK, Ohio – Funeral arrangements have been made for three of the Brunswick High School students killed in a car crash over the weekend.

Lexi Poerner, 16; Blake Bartchak, 17,  and Jeffery Chaya, 18, died following the crash in Columbia Township that happened just after midnight Sunday.

The accident at the railroad crossing on Boston Road also took the life of Kevin Fox, 18. The Ohio State Highway Patrol said the speeding car went airborne, hitting a ditch and a tree before coming to rest of its roof.

Visitation for Poerner will be Thursday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Jardine Funeral Home on Pearl Road in Strongsville. The funeral mass will begin Friday at 9:30 a.m. at St. Ambrose Church in Brunswick. Poerner will be buried at Resurrection Cemetery, but attendees are urged to meet at the church. Contributions in Lexi’s memorial can be made at any First Merit Bank care of Lexi Poerner.

There will be a wake for Bartchak on Wednesday at St. Ambrose Catholic Parish on Pearl Road in Brunswick from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. The burial mass will be Thursday at noon at the same church with Father John Carlin officiating. Donations in Blake’s memorial can be made to the Brunswick Football Mom’s Club, 3581 Center Rd., Brunswick.

Visitation for Chaya is Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Ambrose Catholic Church with a burial mass on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. Father Bob Stec will officiate the ceremony. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Jeffrey Chaya Memorial Fund at the First Merit Bank branch on Center Road in Brunswick.

Bartchak and Chaya will both be buried at Resurrection Cemetery.

Full details for Fox’s final arrangements have not been announced. The wake for Fox will be at Waite and Son Funeral Home. His funeral will be on Saturday.

There is also a prayer service set in support of friends and family at St. Colette Church on West 130st Street in Brunswick at 7:30 p.m. Monday.