📸 Friends and family of two local teens gather at roadside memorial for community vigil

By OLIVIA BERGMEIER
Salina Post

For the families of 17-year-olds Vance McComber and Anthony Windell, the pair was unstoppable.

The two best friends spent almost every day together, talking about cars or their incessant workout routine, even though some days, both boys worked more than 10 hours at their jobs at Club Car Wash in Salina.

On Thursday, March 28, dozens of friends and family visited the site of the crash that ended their young lives to grieve and share stories about the boys.

Jasmine Windell, Anthony Windell's sister, brought the pink megaphone she used to call for Anthony Windell each day at school pick-up to share stories about her brother.

"That's my brother, man — we grew up together," Jasmine Windell said. "He had my back, and I had his for sure. That's my guy."

John Windell, Anthony Windell's father, Jasmine Windell and Avery McComber, Vance McComber's sister, all shared stories about how the two were inseparable.

"He told me that I was definitely everybody's favorite, and I said, 'No, I think you have a monopoly on mom,' and he would say, 'I agree with you being the favorite because you're a pretty cool person," Avery McComber said. "I told him he was cool too — I don't think he realized how cool."

Kristina Rowland, Vance McComber's mother, shared how Vance McComber and Anthony Windell would chase their goals together with little to no hesitation.

"It was incredible to watch," Rowland said. "When they set a goal, they just did it."

John Windell mirrored this sentiment while talking about Anthony Windell's drive to earn all his things and his last purchase of a large Dodge Ram truck.

The Saline County Sheriff's Office closed Crawford Avenue for the vigil from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, allowing for friends and family to gather safely for the gathering.