Carthage High School is mourning the loss of sophomore Brianna Morris, 16, who died in a car accident late Thursday night. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Morris was a passenger in a pickup truck that veered off Fairview Avenue, about two miles west of Carthage, before striking a tree.

Emergency responders pronounced her dead roughly an hour after the crash. The driver, an 18-year-old woman, sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to a Springfield hospital. Authorities have not released her name.

In response to the tragedy, Carthage School District officials announced that grief counselors will be available for students and staff. Counseling sessions will be held Monday from 1 to 2 p.m., with additional support offered throughout the week.

Friends, classmates, and teachers describe Morris as a bright and promising young student whose absence will be deeply felt in the community. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.