Heritage High student killed in Wake Forest crash

A Heritage High School student died early Monday in a three-car crash on Capital Boulevard in Wake Forest, authorities said.

The crash occurred at the Caveness Farms Avenue intersection shortly after 7 a.m.

According to the State Highway Patrol, a 1997 Saab carrying four Heritage High students was making a left turn into a shopping center when their car was hit by a northbound Honda driven by a Wake Forest High School student.

Braden Rock, 15, the brother of the Saab's driver, 17-year-old Faith Rock, was killed, according to the Highway Patrol.

Two other students in the car, Skyla Kirby and Katie Williams. both 16, were taken to WakeMed in Raleigh, as were Rock and the Wake Forest High student, Oscar Rodriguez-Villa, 17. By later afternoon, Rodriguez-Villa had been released from the hospital. Rock and Williams were listed in fair condition; Kirby was still in serious condition.

Kirby's aunt said that the four Heritage High students were on their way to school after an early-morning scriptures study at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Wake Forest.

The driver of the third car that was hit wasn't injured, authorities said.

The Highway Patrol said Faith Rock's failure to yield to oncoming traffic was a contributing factor in the crash. Troopers were meeting with meeting with Wake County prosecutors to discuss potential criminal charges.

Grief counselors were at both schools on Monday, where teachers broke the news of the fatal crash to students.

"I heard a lot of crying outside of the classroom," Heritage High student Laura Munoz said. "It was quiet in mine."

Northbound lanes of Capital Boulevard were closed for more than three hours after the crash, reopening shortly before 10:30 a.m.