Counselors were ready Monday to help Madison Smith’s second-grade classmates at Broken Arrow School understand what had happened to the tiny, energetic girl with long blond hair.

The question they had trouble answering was “Why?”

Madison’s death the day before in an automobile accident south of Eudora was explained to students and teachers by members of a Lawrence school district crisis-response team.

“Most of the girls were crying. Most of the boys were stoic,” said Laura Bellinger, whose son Ryan is in Madison’s class. “I told Ryan, ‘It’s OK to cry.’ He said, ‘I already did.’

“She was a sweet little girl. They won’t forget,” Bellinger said.

Madison, 7, was a passenger in a 1998 Nissan Maxima driven by her mother, Debby, 41. The Nissan collided with a 2004 Chevrolet Impala at 1:45 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of County Road 1061 and North 1100 Road.

Investigators said it was likely Madison was in a car seat at the time of the crash but had unbuckled herself to put on her shoes.

Acquaintances said Madison was a friendly girl always willing to stop for a conversation. One friend remembered her interrupting a soccer match to talk with someone instead of inbounding the ball. She also competed in tae kwon do.

Teachers described her as “a ray of sunshine” and “a very loving and energetic girl.”

¢ 6News video: 7-year-old killed in weekend accident¢ Madison Josephine Smith¢ Police identify crash victim as 7-year-old Lawrence girl (10-6-03)

Debby Smith was taken to University of Kansas Hospital, Kansas City, Kan., where she was in fair condition Monday night with head and back injuries. The other passenger in the car, 9-year-old Megan Smith, Madison’s sister, suffered minor injuries.

Prepared staff

Donna Patton-Bryant, assistant director of special education, said a dozen members of the school district’s crisis team were assigned Monday to Broken Arrow, 2704 La.

Teachers at the school were told of Madison’s death during a morning staff meeting, Patton-Bryant said. Some were aware of the accident, but she said it was important that each had the same information. A statement also was prepared for teachers to read to students in other classes, so they would hear a consistent message.

“People are talking all the time,” Patton-Bryant said. “Sometimes what they think is fact is rumor. We clear that up.”

¢ 6News video: Proper child safety seat usage important¢Safety Belt facts¢Child Safety Seats facts¢Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day – Oct. 10¢KHP plans for Oct. 10

She said students trying to understand the meaning of death ask many questions of counselors. How did it happen? When? Why?

“‘Why’ is always really hard,” Patton-Bryant said. “It feels so unreal.”

Bellinger, a longtime Broken Arrow volunteer who was at the school for part of the day, said she was relieved by the professionalism of counselors working with the children.

“I was 100 percent impressed with the way the school handled everything,” she said.

The counselors will be back at the school today.

Bellinger and other volunteers at Broken Arrow contacted as many second- and fourth-grade parents as possible by telephone to explain the situation. A note also was sent home with students.

Patton-Bryant said parents should pay careful attention to their children’s comments.

“Listen and give them feedback,” she said. “Hold them.”

She said the importance of being honest could not be understated.

“Kids can really pick up when you’re not being quite truthful,” Patton-Bryant said.

Few details on accident

Lt. Kenny Massey, a Douglas County Sheriff’s Office spokesman, said some elements of the accident remained unclear.

He said the wreck apparently occurred when Smith’s car failed to stop at a stop sign.

“We’re not sure whether Debby Smith didn’t see the stop sign or just what the circumstances were,” Massey said. “It appears that a stop was not made.”

Massey said the driver of the Chevrolet, 48-year-old Steven Parsons of Parkville, Mo., was not injured in the accident. Parsons’ wife, Annette, 41, was taken to KU Hospital with unknown injuries. She was in fair condition Monday night.

Madison also is survived by a father, James Smith, of Lawrence.