GATESVILLE, TX — A Gatesville Independent School District student died on Thursday morning while driving before school.
The district said the student was involved in a car accident. The Texas Department of Public Safety said that the accident happened on FM 107 at 7:50 a.m.
School officials identified the student as Chloe Janisch, 17.
DPS said that Janisch was traveling westbound on FM 107 when she lost control of her 2003 Chevrolet pickup truck and rolled over. Janisch was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected, according to DPS.
Janisch was pronounced dead at the scene. Her family has been notified.
"Chloe was a wonderful young lady," Gatesville ISD Superintendent Barrett Pollard said. "People talk about how sweet she was and we just hate that this happened."
Counselors are on campus to help students through this difficult time.
"It's really just a matter of trying to help the faculty, the staff, the students and the community really," Pollard said.
Last month, two Gatesville High School students died in a car accident after crashing into a tree.
"After the memorials and the vigils, we felt like the students had some closure and some peace to that tragedy, but this kind of opens another wound," Pollard said. "We've never had anything like this happen before and we sure hope it never happens again."
The high school was scheduled to have finals today and tomorrow, but due to the accident, students will be exempted from their tests.
The district is asking all students to remain on campus on Thursday, and asking anyone who wants to go home be picked up by a parent.
"Our main goal is to avoid having an emotionally distraught student behind the wheel of a car," the district said in a statement on Thursday.
Gatesville ISD is set to have graduation ceremonies on Friday.
