A popular and respected senior at Logan County High School, who was the child of one of the area's leading educational families, lost her life Saturday.

Melinda Costellow, 17, died in a fiery two-vehicle automobile crash shortly after noon on KY 79, the Morgantown Road.

Two people in the other car were injured.

President of the LCHS Beta Club and one of the leaders of her graduating class, she was reportedly on her way home after having taken the ACT college entrance examination.

The weather made driving difficult Saturday. The area was plagued with fog and precipitation that ranged from a drizzle to heavy downfall.

According to a report from the Logan County Sheriff's Office, Miss Costellow was northbound when she lost control of her 1995 Mitsubishi Mirage.

The car collided with a guardrail on the southbound side and came back into the path of a 1997 Honda Accord, driven southbound by Vonda Mills of Russellville.

"Mills was unable to avoid the Mitsubishi and made impact on the passenger's side. The collision caused the Mitsubishi to overturn with the gas tank rupturing and the car bursting into flames," the Sheriff's Department report says.

Miss Costellow was pronounced dead on the scene.

Mills and her passenger, Pamela Mills, also of Russellville, were transported to the Medical Center in Bowling Green. Vonda Mills, 49, was treated and released; Pamela Mills, 41, was held for observation.

The collision is being investigated by the Logan County Sheriff's Department. Assisting were Medical Center EMS and Auburn Rural Fire Department personnel.

Melinda Costellow was the youngest of four daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Kenny Costellow. She was active in a number of organizations, including the Speech and Drama Club and Yes Club.

A picture and story of her leading the induction of new members into the LCHS Beta Club appears today on Page B-4. She also was the leader of the club when it competed at the district meeting two days before her death.

Her dad, Kenny Costellow, teaches English at LCHS. Her mother Jane teaches kindergarten at Auburn Elementary School. Both are highly respected members of the teaching profession.

Word of the fatality reached Auburn School shortly before the annual fall festival was to begin in the gymnasium. Sadness took the place of much of the usual fun, especially for the adults.

Principal Bob Nylin of LCHS called members of the large faculty together at 7:15 Monday morning to discuss how they would deal with their own grief and that of the students.

They were surprised when Kenny Costellow walked in and talked with them. "He said he felt a need to be there to help deal with it," one faculty member told the N-D&L.

Members of a grief counseling team from schools around the region were at LCHS throughout the day Monday so that students could have someone to talk with through their sorrow.

Memorial services for Melinda Costellow are scheduled today (Tuesday) at 2 p.m. at Young Funeral Home's Auburn Chapel. Auburn and Logan County High schools will be dismissed at 1 p.m. to allow those who wish to do so attend the funeral.

Her obituary appears on Page A-5.