Danielle Dawn Smalley Foundation

Danielle Dawn Smalley was born Sept. 1, 1978.

She enjoyed a typical childhood, finishing elementary school and then attending Scurry-Rosser High School in Kaufman County, Texas. Her love of music and theater were surpassed only by her love of family. She was well read and articulate, with a sense of humor.

Danielle played volleyball in her sophomore year, among other high school activities. Her interests returned to her love of music and theater when she and a group of close friends formed a band. Danielle sang and played bass guitar, and worked in a number of one-act plays. Her acting ability earned her a drama scholarship to Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas.

The Accident* | Aug. 24, 1996 | KEMP, Texas
— A liquid butane pipeline broke and exploded Saturday near a subdivision in this northeast Texas town, killing two teenagers who inadvertently triggered the blast with an ignition spark from their truck.

One home was destroyed in the 3:30 p.m. explosion and about 50 others were evacuated in the rural neighborhood while firefighters allowed the underground pipeline to burn. The leak was noticed by a man in the neighborhood who sent his daughter, Danielle Smalley, and her friend, Jason Stone, to report it. The teenagers triggered the blast with an ignition spark from their truck as they were driving away, said Kaufman County Sheriff Robert Harris.

Ms. Smalley and Mr. Stone, both 17, were killed. There were no other injuries. Flames reached dozens of feet high and a column of black smoke could be seen for miles as firefighters from six communities were called in. "While I was sitting there, it ignited," said resident Rick Brugette. "The flames came almost up to the front door of my house. ... It was probably about 150 degrees on my porch."