Hundreds gather to mourn three young crash victims

About 400 people attended a memorial service at Háteigskirkja church on Wednesday evening for Benjamín Guðmundsson, who died in a car crash on Krýsuvíkurvegur road, mbl.is reports.

A memorial service was held at the same time at Lágfellskirkja church for Arndís Halla Guðlaugsdóttir, who also died in the crash and was from Mosfellsbær.

“There were 400 people in the church,” said Helga Soffía Konráðsdóttir, the parish priest at Háteigskirkja. She said the gathering included young people from the parish, as well as others who had known Benjamín, who had been confirmed at the church.

Helga Soffía said the memorial had gone better than expected. The young people had been able to meet and grieve together, while many others also attended. Candles were lit in the church, and people were free to place them wherever they wished. After the formal service, people stayed for about an hour to sit quietly, talk and support one another.

She said the experience showed how important it was to provide people with a way to grieve, not only those closest to the deceased. Events such as this affect the whole community, she said, adding that many members of the public had been deeply shaken by the deaths.

The service alternated between piano music, words of encouragement and prayers that included the names of the three young people who died in the crash. “There were tears, smiles and prayers,” Helga Soffía said.