THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, September 21, 1996          TAG: 9609210243
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   45 lines

TALLWOOD STUDENTS HIT BY CAR DRIVEN BY FELLOW STUDENT THE BOY DRIVING THE CAR, 16, HAD NOT BEEN CHARGED AS OF FRIDAY NIGHT.

Three girls walking home from classes at Tallwood High School were struck Friday afternoon when a car, driven by a fellow student, apparently went out of control and ran up on the sidewalk, police said.

One of the girls was flown to the Trauma Center at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital by the Nightingale helicopter ambulance; the other two victims also were taken to Norfolk General. They were identified as:

Nicole D. Jones, 17, of the 5700 block of Albright Drive. She was flown to Norfolk General and was listed in serious condition Friday night in the neurological intensive care unit.

Rosanne Marie Haga, 17, also of the 5700 block of Albright Drive. She was listed in stable condition.

Jessi Leigh Machak, 15, of the 5700 block of Earnheardt St., who also was listed in stable condition.

The 16-year-old boy who was driving the car was not hurt. He had not been charged as of Friday evening, but the investigation into the accident was continuing. His name was not being released because of his age.

The accident occurred at 2:14 p.m., police said, as classes let out for the afternoon.

The three girls were walking south on Kempsville Road just past the intersection with Lions Way - the street leading into the Tallwood High School complex.

The boy drove out of Lions Way and turned south toward Centerville Turnpike.

``Witnesses say that he pulled out at a high rate of speed,'' police spokesman Lou Thurston said. But it was unclear if he was speeding. The posted limit in the area is 45 mph, and the area is not marked as a school zone.

The car, a 1981 Chevrolet El Camino, hit the girls and then slammed into a tall, wooden privacy fence that protected a backyard play area of a residence.

The car came to a stop a few yards from a children's swing set, but no youngsters were playing at the time.

The boy was questioned by police and then released to his parents.

Tallwood administrators went to Norfolk General to check on the injured students and meet with their parents. School officials said crisis counselors were alerted to the incident and will be ready to assist students if needed.

KEYWORDS: ACCIDENT TRAFFIC JUVENILE INJURIES by CNB