It's not a freak accident. Deaths like that happen everyday and it's only a big deal because the town is probably so close-knit. I may be sounding like an ass but if you consider every hit-and-run that happens all around the world, this one doesn't seem so out of the ordinary. Of course it's sad that a lot of kids were killed but that's life
And I suggest that you don't go. You don't have to go to a funeral to pay your respects