SUMMIT COUNTY, Ohio — A vigil is scheduled for tonight to remember Coventry High School students and siblings, Abigayle Mates and Adrian Mates-Mata, who were killed in a house fire earlier this week.
The vigil is being held behind Community Church of Portage Lakes, which is directly across from Coventry Middle School. School officials say while there is limited parking at the church, plenty of spaces will be available in the lot next to Harbor Freight and in the plaza, as well as Coventry Middle School and High School.
"Let’s gather, encourage one another as a community, and stay to share stories and light up their memory. Your presence will help us all grieve and heal together while celebrating their lives. Please feel free to bring any flowers or memorabilia you’d like to leave for them. Together, we can create a beautiful tribute," Coventry school officials wrote on the district's Facebook page.
DETAILS OF THE FIRE
Coventry Fire Chief Adam Rockich reports that a call came in at 3:03 a.m. on Wednesday regarding a structure fire with people trapped inside a house located on Cove Blvd. One adult woman inside the house was able to get out, with the teen siblings trapped inside.
Rockich says responding fire crews found 15-year-old Adrian in a back bedroom on the first floor, while 17-year-old Abigayle was located in an upstairs hallway. The two were taken to the burn unit of Akron Children's Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
The woman who was able to escape the house was initially taken to Cleveland Clinic Akron General Medical Center in critical condition. Rockich told 3News she was also transported to the burn unit at Akron Children's Hospital. Neighbors told 3News that the woman is the grandmother of Abigayle and Adrian.
There is no new information on her condition as of Friday.
Rockich says the Ohio State Fire Marshal's office is investigating the cause of the blaze.
Following Wednesday morning's fire, loved ones and classmates came to mourn Abigayle and Adrian. A makeshift memorial formed outside the house, with a number of teens placing footballs at the site. Adrian was an offensive lineman for Coventry's junior varsity team.
"He never got to get a varsity jersey," Aydin Luckart, Adrian's friend and a member of the varsity squad, said after placing his own uniform at the memorial. "I felt like he deserved a varsity one a little bit more than me."
