CINCINNATI — After nearly a month on life support and after undergoing several surgeries, a recent Blanchester High School graduate died Monday morning, July 25 at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
Sydney Blevins, 18, a 2016 BHS graduate, was hospitalized after being a passenger in a head-on crash in Miami Township in Clermont County Wednesday evening, June 29.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, a 1998 Honda driven by Autumn Neil, also 18 and a 2016 Blanchester grad, went left of center and struck a 2007 Volkswagen driven by Liza Haehnle, 18, of Milford. Neil suffered serious injuries; Haehnle had minor injuries, according to reports.
Monday morning, on a Facebook page titled Sydney’s Journey, Sydney’s mother, Michelle Calhoun, posted, “It’s with a heartbroken heart that I have to share this … This morning at 4:45 a, my beautiful baby girl left this earth and made her way to heaven. RIP my beautiful angel! I love you so much more than you will ever know. I will never understand this, but I know you were too perfect for this earth. Give grandma & papal a kiss for me. I know they were so happy to see your face.”
In speaking about Sydney, friend Danielle Hope Freudenberg told the News Journal “how loving and caring she was … Sydney was always laughing and tried to make everything better,” she said. “If you were down, she was there to pick you back up.”
Grief counselors were provided Monday afternoon at Blanchester High School. Also, a candlelight vigil was planned for Monday at 8:30 p.m. at the high school flag pole.
Funeral arrangements had not been completed as of Monday afternoon.
