Cranberry High School’s Bible Club Holds Heartfelt Prayer for Victims of Tragic Car Accident

Written by Raquel Knight

SENECA, Pa, March 27, 2025 - On Thursday, March 27th, the Bible Club at Cranberry High School, known as Ignite, gathered early in the morning in front of the school to hold a touching public prayer for the three families affected by a recent fatal car accident. Students, teachers, and staff from the school stood united in prayer for the families, their school districts, emergency responders, and everyone impacted by the tragedy.

The car accident, which occurred on Saturday, March 22nd, claimed the lives of three individuals: 16-year-old Cambrie Priester, a student from Union High School; 16-year-old Landon Akins, a student from Armstrong High School; and Christopher McNutt, a father of three from the Sligo community. A juvenile passenger in McNutt's vehicle also sustained serious injuries in the crash.

Abigail Powell-Sliker, an 8th-grade student at Cranberry High School, led a heartfelt prayer for the McNutt family. "It’s important to pray because God works, and when you pray, God hears you. We know that God heard us today and will heal the family and friends in His perfect way and in His perfect time," Powell-Sliker shared.

Ignite Club's advisor, Trisha Dixon, a teacher at Cranberry High School and an alumna of Union School District, also spoke on the impact of the loss. “Losing a life so suddenly is heartbreaking, and my thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and communities who are grieving. I remember my time at Union, specifically—the friendships, the support, and the sense of community there. That’s why we are coming together in prayer, to lift-up the families and communities and remind everyone that they are not alone. In times of loss, faith and unity can bring hope and healing.”

Lexi Reisinger, a senior at Cranberry who helped lead the prayer, expressed the deep connection felt across districts. “We wanted to show that we support our surrounding school districts, and this tragedy really was felt this far. Cambrie, especially, had friends in our school. Students supporting students across districts is important.”

In a show of solidarity, many students and staff wore pink and blue in honor of Cambrie and Landon. Pink was Cambrie’s favorite color, while blue was Landon’s, as shared by his mother, Leighann Berry.

The prayer gathering was attended by a significant number of students, teachers, staff members, and even the district’s superintendent and high school principals.

As the community mourns in Sligo, Rimersburg, and Cadogan, the funeral services for the victims are planned for this week. Cambrie Priester’s funeral will be held on Thursday, March 27th, while the funerals for Landon Akins and Christopher McNutt are set for Friday, March 28th.

In a time of sorrow, the prayer gathering was a powerful reminder of the strength found in unity, faith, and compassion. The students, teachers, and families from Cranberry continue to offer their thoughts and prayers as the communities affected by this tragic loss begin to heal.