Crime & Safety

Student Who Was To Graduate On Friday Killed In Accident

Etowah High School senior Shania "Lucy" Boettcher, 18, and 2010 graduate Darius Valcarcel, 22, both died in a single-vehicle accident on I-285 in Dunwoody.

An Etowah High School senior who was set to graduate Friday evening was one of two people who were killed in a single-vehicle accident Tuesday in Dunwoody.

According to Dunwoody Police, Shania "Lucy" Boettcher, 18, died in the accident that occurred around 8:27 p.m. on Interstate 285 at Chamblee-Dunwoody Road. 

A Ford Explorer traveling eastbound "lost control and rolled several times," the agency said in a news release. One person was ejected while another was "partially ejected" from the SUV.  

Another person, a 2010 Etowah High School graduate, Darius Valcarcel, 22, also died from injuries sustained in the crash.

Another passenger, Anthony White, 21 of Dallas, TX, and driver Shauna Clausen, 17, were both transported to Grady Memorial Hospital where they were treated for non life-threatening injuries.

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"The accident is still under investigation, but the initial reports indicate that the driver was distracted by a passenger which caused her to lose control of the vehicle," the agency said. "The driver overcorrected causing the vehicle to turn sideways then roll several times coming to rest on the right shoulder."

Etowah High School's graduation will be held at 8 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church of Woodstock. 

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Etowah Principal Keith Ball met with the senior class Wednesday morning "to talk with them about the loss of one of their classmates and a recent graduate," the Cherokee County School District said in a statement. 

Counselors are also available at the school for students, and will remain accessible to students for the remainder of the week. 

A student-organized vigil will be held tonight at 8 p.m. at Etowah, the district said. Etowah is located at 6565 Putnam Ford Drive in Woodstock. 

“Eagle Mountain is in mourning for two fallen Eagles,” Deputy Superintendent Dr. Brian Hightower added.  “As is tradition at Etowah High School, a chair is left empty at the graduation ceremony for any student from the class who has passed away.  A chair will be left empty for Lucy, her name will be listed in the program and her name will be read along with her graduating classmates. This tradition reminds us of the loss felt by the students’ family, friends and the school, and also honors their memory.”

According to her Facebok page, Boettcher occasionally worked as a model for Brooklynn's, a downtown Woodstock boutique. 

Anyone with additional information on the accident is asked to contact Dunwoody Police at 678-382-6919 or email Officer Tomalka at joseph.tomalka@dunwoodyga.gov.


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