Tenoroc High School is mourning the loss of one of its students.
- Tenoroc High mourns loss of student killed in crash
- Baylee Shirah died in a car crash in Polk City on Thursday
- Her passenger, Hannah Combee, is in critical condition
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Baylee Shirah, 18, died in a car crash in Polk City, on Thursday, around 6:30 p.m.
Shirah was a senior at Tenoroc High School. Grief counselors were on campus Friday.
Sonya Ashley shared dance class with Shirah. She said Shirah couldn’t wait to go to prom.
“She always talked about prom and her boyfriend. She’s like, 'I’m going with my boyfriend.' She was always telling me about things. She had her prom dress ready,” said Sonya Ashley.
Investigators said Shirah was on Mt. Olive street, attempting to turn left onto County Road 33, when she pulled out in front of a pickup headed north. Deputies said the pickup driver was unable to slow down in time and hit Shirah’s driver side door.
Both Shirah and the pickup driver attended Tenoroc High School.
Also in the vehicle with Shirah was Hannah Combee. They were less than a mile from Combee’s home. Deputies said Combee was taken to the hospital with critical injuries.
The pickup driver wasn’t injured. His mother said she wanted to send prayers to all of the families involved.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said no charges were being filed at this time. So far, investigators do not believe excessive speed or impairment to be factors in the crash.
Polk County School Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd said in a statement Baylee Shirah “always had a smile on her face and she was very well liked by her peers and her teachers." Byrd said Shirah was focused on graduating.