CARBON COUNTY -- When students arrived at Panther Valley High School in Carbon County on Monday, many were shocked to learn that a fellow classmate was died over the weekend.
Police said Autumn Young, 17, of Nesquehoning lost control of her vehicle on the snow-covered Route 309 in Tamaqua and hit another car on Sunday morning.
Young was thrown out of her vehicle.
Her classmates at Panther Valley High School are mourning the teenager.
"It was a shock, I didn't believe it at first. Devastating," said Megan Marouchoc, a senior.
She said Young was a hard worker and a smart girl. "She was always happy. Always had a smile on her face. She's going to be missed."
One of Young's teachers wrote this about the teen: "She had big soulful eyes that she liked to doll up with mascara and light porcelain skin that looked even whiter in contrast to the red lipstick that often was her signature style."
"She was a very sweet child. She was very quiet, polite, chose to keep a low profile. Excellent student, worked very hard," said PaNther Valley High School Principal Joe Gunnels.
Young was a senior at Panther Valley and school officials say grief counselors are available for students who knew the 17 year old.
"We brought in crisis teams, folks from our intermediate unit as well as other counselors to help students deal with the grief," said Gunnels.
A group of seniors wanted to put a sign at the entrance to the school campus in Summit Hill.
Gunnels said, "That was their motivation to honor and commemorate her."
Young's friends said it has been a rough year for the family. Back in May, the teenager's mother died. Now the family is dealing with another loss, too soon.
"They're good people. Really good people. Things like that shouldn't happen to them."
The principal at Panther Valley said grief counselors will be available as long as students need.
