MORROW, Ga. -- Gone too soon in such a terrible way: now a metro Atlanta city - and a school community - are in mourning.
It was a day of celebration - a time-honored tradition for high school seniors as their final year of school came ever closer to an end. Makayla Penn, just 18, was riding in the car with her friend Cristina Pavon-Baker on "senior skip day" when the accident happened. Their Mini Cooper was heading north on I-75 about to get onto Jonesboro Road when they unexpectedly left the roadway.
No other vehicle was involved. But the accident was no less heartrending for first responders - some calling the scene horrific. Cristina made it out and was taken to the hospital. Tragically, medical staff at the scene were unable to save Makayla.
Cristina and Makayla were students of Community Christian School taking advantage of a day celebrated by many a senior - a day open to students hoping to make college visits and plan other activities. It was a day when these young girls were looking toward their future.
Now, their friends and family are remembering their excitement and holding those happy memories close to their hearts as they begin to grieve.
"We ask our community to pray with us and with our students as we grieve this devastating loss," Headmaster Fred Banke said in a statement. "We also ask for prayer for the recovery of our injured student and healing for our school family."
A vigil is planned for Tuesday at 7 p.m.
