On Sunday, two communities came together to mourn the death of a teenager who was killed in a car accident the night before.
According to a report by WAFF, over 100 people from Hartselle and Priceville joined to grieve and remember 17-year-old Chloe Hastings, who died in a wreck on Saturday night.
Chloe was a member of First Methodist Church of Hartselle's youth group, which organized a gathering on Sunday night, around 24 hours after her passing, for people who wanted to pray and share memories of her.
Per WAFF, the event began as a small gathering of teenagers but "turned into waves of people pouring into the church’s gymnasium."
“Students, youth, adults, we all need comfort for each other, and we have a place that we can open the doors, and so that’s what we’re going to do,” youth minister Shannon Booth told WAFF. “We’re going to give an opportunity for people to just share this time with each other and bring comfort to each other.”
In addition to being a member in the church's youth group, Chloe, who had just finished her junior year at Priceville High School, was also a manager of the football team, captain of the softball team and photographer of the soccer team.
According to Decatur Police, one person was taken into custody on the scene of Saturday night’s crash on suspicion of DUI. However, the department has not yet confirmed that person’s identity or if any charges have been filed, according to the outlet.
Morgan County Schools released a statement on Monday remembering Chloe for "her kindness, warmth, and unwavering support for her friends, as well as an infectious personality that could brighten anyone’s day with her smile."
"It is with a heavy heart that I share the devastating news of the loss of one of our beloved students. This student was known for her kindness, warmth, and unwavering support for her friends, as well as an infectious personality that could brighten anyone’s day with her smile. We extend our deepest sympathies to the student’s family and friends, and our thoughts and prayers are with them. Our Crisis Support Team will be available for students and staff over the next few days at school. As the school community processes this news and copes with grief, please know that support services are available to those in need," Tracie Turrentin, superintendent of Morgan County Schools, said.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning or become a member to gain access to exclusive content and 1819 News merch.
