After two years as a Grayson High School cheerleader, Brittany "Angel" Sailors planned to take a break her junior year, a friend told the AJC. Angel hoped to cheer again as a senior.
But Sunday night, the 16-year-old hadn't driven far from her home when she pulled out in front of another vehicle in a neighborhood near Grayson and was killed, police said. Her passenger, a fellow cheerleader, was also injured. Neither teen was wearing a seatbelt.
Jalynn Brannon, also 16, told the AJC that she watching television Sunday night when she heard sirens nearby. She later learned it was a crash that claimed a close friend she called "outgoing" and "sweet."
"She touched my heart so much," Brannon said. "She was such a sweet girl."
According to police, Sailors was driving a 2000 Mitsubishi Diamante when she attempted to make a left turn from Graystone Parkway onto Lakeview Road around 9:40 p.m. Sailors' car was struck on the driver's side by a 1998 Pontiac Bonneville that was westbound on Lakeview Road, according to police.
Sailors died at the scene of the crash. Her passenger, 16-year-old Lacey Gowens, along with two people in the Pontiac were transported to the hospital with injuries not believed life-threatening.
Police later charged the Pontiac's driver, 23-year-old male Mutajah Paasewe of Grayson, with driving under the influence of alcohol. Investigators believe Sailors failed to yield before making the left-hand turn. Police did not say how fast Paasewe was driving.
Brannon said other friends have told her that Sailors and Gowens were going to get ice cream at the time of the crash.
Josh Kennedy, who lives near the crash scene, told Channel 2 Action News that he told his parents to call 911, then ran to help the teens, who were trapped in the wreckage.
"Me and another guy broke off two back doors to try to get them out," Kennedy said.
"What I saw, I hope no parent ever has to go through," Kennedy's father, Mike Kennedy, said. "It was traumatizing."
Brannon told the AJC word spread quickly late Sunday about the wreck. Throughout the day Monday, friends and neighbors dropped by flowers, balloons and teddy bears at the crash site, creating a memorial to teen. Many friends used Twitter and Facebook to share memories of often-smiling brunette.
"Everybody loved her," Brannon said. "We were really close. She would always call me if she needed something."
Sailors, according to friends, was a good student who truly cared about her friends and loved to have fun. A visitation for Sailors will be held Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Graystone Church in Loganville, followed by a funeral at 11 a.m. Friday at the church, according to Tom M. Wages Funeral Services.
Paasewe, who was booked into the Gwinnett County jail at 5:15 a.m. Monday, was released shortly after 4:30 p.m. after posting $1,501 bond, according to booking records. His arrest history includes previous drug and alcohol charges, records show.
— Staff writer Mike Morris contributed to this article.
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