A school community and a family are in shock, after a third Opelousas Catholic student died in a car crash Tuesday. 11-year-old Alyssa Guillory, of Ville Platte, died in a car accident Tuesday afternoon in Chatagnier.
State Police said for an unknown reason, the driver veered off the road and hit a tree. The driver and two other children had only minor injuries. Police said everyone in the car was wearing a seat belt. Guillory was the only one killed.
At only 11 years old, Guillory had already made her mark in this world.
"She was a wonderful young lady, a very good student, top class, top group, full of spirit, full of smiles," said Opelousas Catholic Principal Perry Fontenot.
Former teacher and family friend Jennifer Keeler added, "She was such a loving little girl, all of her classmates will miss her dearly because she was just truly one of the nicest little girls."
Her teachers described Guillory as brilliant, already winning academic awards before starting seventh grade. She also barrel raced in the Acadiana Youth Rodeo.
Now, she's gone too soon, just like two other Opelousas Catholic students Sarah Jarrell and Morgan Adams. Two crosses with the cheerleaders' names now stand in front of the school as a memorial, and now a third cross could be added for Guillory.
"We're just swallowing the events of a few months ago and a fundraiser two weeks ago for Meghan and now this, it's sort of like what next."
It seems the small school can't take much more. Jarrell and Adams were killed in a car accident in early April. At the same time, sophomore Meghan Briley is battling an inoperable brain tumor. During all of it, the school leans on its faith to get through.
"Pray for us, pray for the families and to pray for our school and our children," said Fontenot.
"We will depend on God to get us through this," said Keeler.
Funeral arrangements for Guillory are still pending, however Lafond-Ardoin funeral home in Opelousas is taking care of the arrangements.