A southwest Phoenix community is standing together and hoping three high school girls will recover from a brutal accident early Friday evening.
It took the Jaws of Life to get the trio out of the car they were in near 63rd Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 3 trapped in wreck on Lower Buckeye Road
There is a growing memorial where the accident happened. A group of family and school staff gathered Sunday afternoon to pray and be there for each other.
The girls were identified by family and friends in the crowd as Zakiyyah Elzy, Jasmine Hardee and Taijanique Turner.
The principal at Sierra Linda High School, Tim Madrid, said they are all juniors at the school. He said the girls, who are very popular, are all cheerleaders at the school.
"Behind me there's as many staff as there is people here because our thoughts and our prayers and our hearts are broken right now,' Madrid said.
Phoenix police said -- according to preliminary reports -- the group was in a maroon Oldsmobile heading south on 63rd Avenue approaching Lower Buckeye Road when the driver didn't yield for a stop sign and collided with a black Ford pickup truck. Police said the driver of the Ford stayed at the scene of the incident and there were no signs of impairment.
Angela Womack is the mother of Jasmine. She said Jasmine was behind the wheel, but said her daughter is an extremely cautious driver, even taking a defensive driving class.
"'She is constantly trying to tell me how to drive." Womack said. "They're just really, really good kids and it's just really horrible," Womack said.
Officers said one of the girls was transported in extremely critical condition. They said the others were taken to the hospital also.
Zakiyyah Elzy is on life support according to her family. April Cash said Zakiyyah is donating her organs so she can save a life.
Turner's mother said, "Taijanique is recovering and may be able to go home sometime this week. Jasmine is still recovering. "
Each girl has had an impact on the crowd at the vigil. Patricia Cash said she was one of Zakiyyah's best friends.
"She was amazing," Cash said. "She always had light on her, never a dull moment with her... [she was] always doing something to make somebody happy."
Madrid said there will be grief counselors on hand at Sierra Linda High School Monday.
