TwoFar South Coast school communities are in shock after learning one of their own was killed and three others were badly injured in a horror smash on the Princes Hwy.
Eden Marine and Bega high schools held assemblies yesterday to tell students of the accident in which Kylie Poyner, 17, died when the car she was driving left the highway at Eden and hit a tree about 3.40am on Sunday.
The impact was so severe police could not at first establish who was driving the vehicle.
Passenger Tegan Lloyd, 15, from Bemboka lost her legs and is in a critical condition in Canberra Base Hospital.
Ben Halfpenny, 13, and Michael Clark, 15, both of Merimbula, were also badly hurt, suffering severe head, leg and pelvic injuries.
As a first-year P-plate driver, Kylie was not allowed to carry more than one passenger under 21 years old between 11pm and 5am.
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VIDEO: Driver wanted to be police officer An Education Department spokeswoman said students and teachers at Eden Marine High School were deeply upset by the tragedy.
"It's a small community and something like this impacts everyone," she said.
The Mercury understands Kylie, of Pambula, left the school and attended Nambucca Heads High School last year but re-enrolled at Eden Marine for this year.
Students had been offered counselling and the school would continue to support the injured students, the spokeswoman said.
Principal Jenne Gardner, of Bega High School, where Tegan is a Year 10 student, said the school was left distraught by the news.
"The thoughts and prayers of all at the school go to the Lloyd family and the other families whose children were in the accident," she said.
Bega Police Inspector Jason Edmunds, who attended the scene of the tragedy, was reminded of life's fragility.
"Times like this are a reminder to everyone about the ease with which accidents can happen and the horrendous consequences that can follow," he said.
"I implore drivers of all ages to be careful on the roads."
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