Smith of Beavercreek died at the scene and three others teens were suffered serious injuries following the wreck Thursday night along Ohio 73. Smith was the front seat passenger in a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am that was struck on its right side and pushed into a guardrail at the intersection with South Main Street.
At Friday's service, Smith was remembered by classmates as a caring friend who always had a smile for everyone.
“Every time I saw her she always had a smile on her face. She was always in a good mood,” said Kaylei Lowe.
The stage was decorated with dozens of candles and poster-sized photos of Smith from a 2010 mission trip to an orphanage in Africa. A slide show of Smith posing with friends drew tears and laughter. In many photos, she made silly faces and goofed with peers.
Prayers were also said for the other teens injured in the crash.
Beavercreek City Schools Superindendent Nick Verhoff said students were informed of the accident over the high school’s public address system Friday morning. Counselors were available and Verhoff said they would be available for several more weeks. “It’s a very tragic day for our school district,” he said. “Alexis was a wonderful, very energetic and outgoing girl.”
Authorities said that at about 9 p.m. Thursday, 17-year-old Chelsea Miller of Dayton was driving the Pontiac north on South Main Street when she failed to yield the right of way after pulling off from a stop sign at the intersection. A 2001 Chevrolet Blazer driven by Kaleb Shannon, 20, of Waynesville, struck the car. Shannon was not injured.
Ohio Highway Patrol Lt. Mike Sanders said he doesn’t expect any charges against Shannon unless it is determined he was speeding. Friday night, an officer at the Lebanon post said an accident reconstruction team would begin work Monday and charges could be filed within the week.
Miller, also a student at Beavercreek high, was listed in serious condition at Kettering Medical Center.
Ricky Kemp, 19, of Franklin and Ricky Dixon, 18, of Springboro -- who were in the back seat of the Pontiac -- remain at Miami Valley Hospital. Kemp, who was ejected through the rear window, remains in serious condition. Dixon, who was trapped in the wreckage, was in critical condition.
Kemp attended the Warren County Career Center. Dixon graduated from the center in 2011.
Smith died of multiple blunt force traumas, according to the autopsy the Warren County Coroner’s Office performed Friday. Funeral arrangements are pending.
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