OLATHE, Kan. — Dana Macfarland is still shocked after learning one of her childhood friends, Hailey Hochanandel is dead and another, Ashley Lamb, is fighting for her life following a trip to the Lake of the Ozarks.
“Almost every summer they were at the lake or doing something at the lake,” Macfarland said.
Early Saturday morning the boat the two 21-year-old women were in struck a rock bluff.
The violent impact also killed their friends, Joseph LeMark and Daniel Lewis from Overland Park.
Troopers arrested the driver, Hayden Frazier, age 22, for boating under the influence.
“Don’t drink and drive boats—don’t do anything where you’re going to be driving and drinking,” Macfarland said.
Macfarland met Hochanandel in middle school and later met Lamb at Olathe East where all three went to high school.
“They were really close, they were really close friends. They did almost everything together when I knew them, they were inseparable, always together. A few of my friends hung out with them,” Macfarland said.
Macfarland lost touch when Hochanandel went to the University of Missouri and Lamb headed to Kansas State University.
As Macfarland plans to attend Hochanandel’s funeral, her thoughts are with Lamb's family who on Monday created a GoFundMe campaign to help with medical expenses.
In it, relatives write Lamb remains in the ICU. She’s faces several neurological and facial surgeries in coming weeks.
“I really hope the best for Ashley and I hope that she can pull through this and you guys are in my prayers. I'm really hoping for the best for everyone suffering from this loss,” Macfarland said.
