UNION COUNTY, N.C. — Weddington High School students went back to class Tuesday without one of their own classmates.
Rachel Lucenius, 17, was killed in a crash Friday afternoon after the car she was in hydroplaned on Weddington Lake and Cox Road and hit a fence, police said.
[PAST COVERAGE: Classmates, community mourn high school student who died in car wreck]
She was one of two passengers in the car with her 16-year-old classmate who was driving.
"Warrior Strong" is seen all across Union County in memory of Lucenius.
There are tributes on social media and other schools have organized balloon releases and "green-outs," WHS's school color.
“She was in class with my nephew last year and they were very upset," Jean Kanzler said.
Lucenius was riding in a car with friends on the way home from school Friday when they crashed less than two miles from school.
Troopers said speeding on the wet road appeared to be the main cause of the crash.
"My heart goes out to that family," Kanzler said.
At the time of that crash, Channel 9 meteorologists were cutting into programming to warn of severe weather in that area.
Union County was under a tornado watch and severe thunderstorm warning when students got out of school.
The principal at neighboring Cuthbertson High School decided to hold the bell and keep students a little late because of the weather.
Weddington High School, four miles away, did not.
Channel 9 learned there is not a districtwide policy regarding severe weather.
"I would certainly think it's something the school board should address," Jeff Perryman said.
"I think everyone is hurting right now and it might be good to talk about," Kanzler said. “Anything you can do to avoid that from happening again."
Eyewitness News anchor Liz Foster reached out to all nine school board members and asked if they believe the board should discuss a policy on keeping students late in the event of severe weather.
She did not get a response from any of them.
Lucenius’ funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Weddington United Methodist Church on Providence Road.
A visitation was held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Heritage Funeral Home on Forest Lawn Drive in Matthews.
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