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Jessica Porter's car was struck on the driver's side in an accident that claimed her life Friday morning.
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An anguished Misty Webb, as identified by Westminister firemen, is pictured at the scene of a fatal crash Friday, Nov. 6, 2009. Police say Webb simply could not stop in time when the car of a West-Oak High School senior pulled in front of her shortly before 8 a.m.
WESTMINSTER — A 17-year-old West-Oak High School senior is being mourned by her friends and family after she was killed in an accident as she drove to school Friday morning.
Jessica M. Porter was driving her 1995 Plymouth Neon on Critter Road northwest of Seneca, Lance Corporal Kathy Hiles of the South Carolina Highway Patrol said. At 7:50 a.m., Porter reportedly attempted to turn left onto Highway 11 from Critter Road, but was struck by a northbound 2004 Dodge Dakota pickup truck driven by 21-year-old Misty Webb.
“As she tried to turn left, she pulled out in front of the northbound Dodge pickup,” Hines said. “She was transported to Oconee County Medical Center.”
Coroner Karl Addis confirmed Porter died in the emergency room there at 8:44 a.m. from closed head trauma. Webb was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No autopsy is planned, and a toxicological analysis will be submitted to South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, though alcohol or drugs are not suspected to have been a factor in the accident.
Kay Powell, director of school and community relations for the Oconee County School District, said various personnel were made available at the West-Oak campus after the accident to help grieving students.
“Our comfort team is here, we have additional guidance here, and the Highway Patrol was here and just left,” Powell said. “We have a lot of support here for the students. We’ve sort of just opened the auditorium up for students to come in if they feel led to and leave when they need to. Some students are choosing to go home.”
Principal Scott Smith described Porter as an admirable student known for a well-adjusted personality and intellectual prowess.
“She was a wonderful student. She’d not been with us a long time. She’d just transferred here last school year,” Smith said. “Jessica was an AP student, a very high achiever. She had a very tight group of friends and was just a tremendous asset to the school.
“We want to emphasize that our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends. This school operates like a family,” he continued. “Our kids know each other, and when something like this happens, it certainly has a tremendous effect on everyone.”
andrew@dailyjm.com | (864) 882-2375
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November 7, 2009
10:22 a.m.Report inappropriate content
How sad. Our prayers are with the family and with Misty.
November 7, 2009
11:41 a.m.Report inappropriate content
What a tragedy to loose a life so young. That is a very bad place to enter Highway 11. When my son was just 16, he did the same as Jessica, and pulled into the path of an oncoming pickup truck. Fortunately he was in a 72 Ford F150 Ranger which is an older model and built a lot tougher than smaller cars are today. I thank God every time something like Jessica's accident happens that he only got a sore knee and a ruined truck. I wish the Dept. Of Transportation would see the need for a traffic signal there. Thank God they finally put a turning arrow out of Walmart's drive, but they should have put a turning arrow on all sides of the light. My thoughts and prayers are with Jessica's family, even though I don't know them. I just pray the DOT sees the need for a light at the Intersection of Hwy 11 and Critter and Mountain Rd. before someone else dies there.