WEDDINGTON, N.C. — A Weddington High School student died in a car accident at the intersection of Weddington Lake and Cox Road Friday afternoon, police said.
Police said Rachel Lucenius, 17, was killed after the car hydroplaned.
Family, friends, teachers and classmates are coping with Lucenius’s death.
The school held a memorial service for Lucenius Saturday morning.
"Spoke to her in the hall yesterday morning, and, it's just there are no words for how everybody here is feeling,” teacher Scotti Youngman said.
Youngman, a teacher at Weddington High, taught Lucenius in ninth grade.
"She always had this adorable little smile and was a friendly, somewhat shy student,” Young man said.
Lucenius was one of two passengers in a car her 16-year-old classmate was driving, along with a friend.
Troopers are looking at factors that might have caused the accident, including speed and driving inexperience.
Weather may have also played a role in the fatal accident when the driver of the car lost control and struck a fence.
News of the single-car accident touched many in the community.
Chase Smith and Adam Francischiello didn't go to Weddington High, or even know Lucenius, but they wanted to show their support.
"We go to Marvin Ridge. Even though it’s a rival school, we wanted to show (that) as a community we care,” Francischiello said.
"We don't even know her,” Smith said. “We just wanted to respect her life, and even though she was taken too soon, just honor who she was."
Students left flowers at the rock on campus and the fence where Lucenius died.
State troopers are investigating the accident and will present their findings to the district attorney sometime next week.
The district attorney will decide whether the driver was at fault and if he could face charges.
Cox Media Group
