JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. — A 15-year-old girl playing with her friends died when she was hit by a train in Jefferson County.
Four of the teens escaped but Shianne Haines did not. Now, just days before the start of summer, students at her high school are coping with the loss.
Shianne was a freshman at Hillsboro High and she was just days away from finishing her freshman year.
"Nothing equals to losing a student, nothing," principal Kathy Freeman said.
When the news broke out Sunday, Dr. Freeman wanted to prepare students and families, so they weren't blindsided Monday.
"I put out a communication to our building families, so they can contact their students communicate with their students," she said.
Extra counselors were brought in and therapy dogs were added for the grieving process. Dr. Freeman said.
"Our students were in there comforting one another, speaking to counselors, making cards things like that and the dogs can really sense who need them," she said.
Sadly, this isn't the first time tragedy has struck their school. Last year, three students died by suicide. That's why they knew they needed to bring in extra resources right away to help their students.
"With every student's loss, it's just heartbreaking and a little bit of us is taken with that students," she said.
5 On Your Side also spoke to one of their counselors who said they want to make sure their students to feel validated and if the students can't handle the pain right now, they are there to support the students.
Counselors at Hillsboro High School gave some advice to parents, especially if they're having trouble talking to their kids about this tragedy. They said parents should let their children know it's OK to grieve. Beyond that, grief is going to look different for everyone.