Family and classmates are mourning Abbey Rice, a Northview High School senior, who died Friday in an out-of-town accident with members of the school’s volleyball team.
Susan Hale, spokeswoman for Fulton County Schools, said Rice and some of her teammates were riding an ATV when it toppled over, killing the girl. Hale said Rice was in south Georgia with members of the volleyball team and several parents at what was described as a team-building event. Hale said the event was not sponsored by the school.
“Abbey’s father has been in touch with the school’s principal and the information we have is what has been shared by the family,” Hale said. “We have the deepest sympathy for the family and want to support them, as well as the others affected, during this tragic time by communicating only what they request.”
Attempts to reach Rice’s family Sunday were unsuccessful. Classmates, who start the new school year Monday, poured their grief out on the Internet over the weekend.
“RIP Abbey Rice,” one Twitter post read. “I don’t even understand. … This is so devastating.”
An Internet fund set up for the family had raised nearly $10,000 by mid-afternoon Sunday.
Hale said Rice had been a student at the Johns Creek high school since her freshman year.
“The school will have its crisis care team in place tomorrow to help any student or staff member needing to speak to someone about their feelings,” she said. “As this is the first day of school for students, our focus is on providing support while also striving to keep the school day as normal as possible.
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