PLYMOUTH - A Triton High School student is dead following a one-car accident Monday night in Plymouth.
Nicole E. Thornton, 17, a junior at Triton High School, was in a 2003 Ford Explorer driven by her mother, M. Christina Thornton, 37, when the car hit snow and ice then hit a tree on 7th Road west of Hickory Road in rural Plymouth.
Both Thorntons were transported to Kosciusko Community Hospital where Nicole was pronounced dead from injuries suffered in the accident.
The Marshall County Sheriff's Office was assisted at the scene by Multi-Township EMS, Plymouth EMS, Plymouth Fire, Bourbon Fire and Indiana State Police.
The accident is still under investigation by the Marshall County Sheriff's Office.
News of the death shocked students and faculty at Triton.
Guidance counselor Hugh Rettinger said that he spent Tuesday talking to students about Thornton's death.
"She was well liked, an honor student, a member of the golf team and a manager for the wrestling team," said Rettinger. "It struck everybody by surprise when they came in (Tuesday)."
Thornton took honors classes at Triton and was looking at a science-related career.
"She talked about going into dentistry or becoming a vet," said Rettinger.
Thornton's pending obituary appears on 3A of today's edition.
