Crest senior dies in afternoon wreck
Resident: Not the first wreck near her home
Elise Franco efranco@shelbystar.com
An 18-year-old Crest High School senior died Tuesday after losing control of her vehicle and crashing into a tree.
B.D. Theis, with the N.C. State Highway Patrol, said the student was traveling south on South Lafayette Street in Shelby when she lost control of her vehicle. She ran off the right side of the road and over corrected, which sent her through the front yard of 1905 S. Lafayette St., and into a tree on the property. The wreck happened around 2:30 p.m.
"She was pinned in the car when I got here," Theis said.
Highway Patrol confirmed the victim as Elizabeth Drum, 18, of Shelby. Theis said she was cut from the vehicle and taken to Carolinas HealthCare System Cleveland in Shelby, where she died from injuries sustained during the crash.
Jane Mauney said she returned home shortly after the wreck to find fire and rescue crews towing the student's vehicle from her front yard.
"They told me there was a bunch of water on the road, and she hydroplaned and hit the tree," Mauney said. "They had to cut the roof off the car."
Mauney said this isn't the first time a driver has lost control near her home.
"People wreck in this yard all the time," she said.
Social media comments about Elizabeth:
"R.I.P Elizabeth Drum, that's for everything you did for me and how u helped on this in class this semester. I'll miss you. Rest In Peace." - Ty Mclaurin on Twitter
"You will be greatly missed Elizabeth. Praying for the Drum family. Rest easy sweet girl." - Bree on Twitter
"We lost a student today and my heart is heavy. Elizabeth Drum is gone from us, but she will never be forgotten. She is a Crest Charger forever and the Class of 2016 will not be the same without her. Praying strength for this young lady's family and her classmates. God bless us in this tragic time." - School board member Donnie Thurman Jr. on Facebook
"Please keep Elizabeth Drum's family in your thoughts, and wear red or orange tomorrow for her. Elizabeth was such a great student at Crest. We're all going to miss you." - Courtney Lynn on Facebook