WHHS student killed in wreck

FLOWERY BRANCH - A popular West Hall High School student was killed Tuesday morning in a one-car wreck near Flowery Branch.

Hall County Coroner Marion Merck identified her as Jenny Melton, 17, of Flowery Branch. Melton was a senior at West Hall, who was the school's reigning homecoming queen and a member of the track team.

The Senior Counselor at West Hall, Teresa Parker, says Melton was an Honor Student and a member of the National Honor Society and the Beta Club.

Doctor Jack Pirkle, Melton's principal, says she was a "wonderful student" who had a "tremendous impact" there.

Parker says the mood at the school was a "somber one" Tuesday and that many students sought counseling.

Melton died when her car struck a utility pole at Jim Crow and Conner roads about 8 a.m.

The State Patrol says speeding contributed to the wreck. Investigators say Melton had been traveling above Jim Crow Road's posted limit of 35 miles-per-hour when her right wheels went off the road. She braked, overcorrected, and crossed to the other side of the road striking a utility pole with her car's passenger side about a tenth of a mile west of Conner Road. Melton had skidded more than 158 feet.

She had been traveling alone. Melton suffered critical injuries despite having on a seat belt. Hall County Emergency Medical Technicians transported her from the scene to Northeast Georgia Medical Center. A doctor in the emergency room later pronounced her dead.

Melton's family will be making her funeral arrangements Wednesday morning at Flannigan's in Buford.

A memorial at West Hall High is being considered for her. A play planned there this weekend has been postponed.

Monday night, a North Hall High School student was critically injured in a one-car accident on Britt Whitmire Road and and had to be airlifted to an Atlanta hospital.