Bay City Central remembers student killed in car accident - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

(10/22/12) - Hearts are heavy at one Mid-Michigan high school as students and staff try to cope with an unexpected loss.

Monday, Bay City Central remembered the life of Autumn Elwell. She died Saturday in a car accident in Kent County - on the west side of the state.

Monday would have been her seventeenth birthday.

The students that ABC12 talked with say Monday was a really tough day.

To celebrate Autumn, they had a birthday party for her at the school. They sang 'Happy Birthday,' ate corn dogs and ravioli - two of Autumn's favorite foods - and they shared special stories of the times they shared with her.

A crisis team made up of grief counselors was at the school to help students cope.

Monday morning, the entire school participated in a moment of silence for Autumn.

She was a senior at Central and spent a lot of her time with the band. Her friends say Autumn played the saxophone, and was the section leader.

Her life was cut short Saturday after a car accident in West Michigan, on I-96 near US-131.

Police say her 25-year-old sister was driving the car, she missed her exit, stopped, and attempted to drive backward on the highway, but lost control. The car was hit by a semi-truck.

Autumn died at the scene. Her sister - who is pregnant - was seriously hurt, but is expected to be OK.

A Facebook page has been created in memory of Autumn. People have been visiting the page to wish her a 'Happy Birthday.'

Bay City Central's student council is working to purchase an angel statue to put up in remembrance of Autumn.