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‘She was always so nice to people’: Friends describe 14-year-old who died in car crash

The teen died after the car she was in crashed with a garbage truck and then hit a tree near 51st Ave. & Thunderbird Rd.

A weekend wreck left one Valley teen dead. Now, family and friends are coming together to remember her short but full life. 

Ella Thomas took her final breaths near 51st Avenue and Thunderbird Road, and the loss is simply heartbreaking for those who knew her best, like school friends Sara and Abby.

"She was an amazing person, like she was always happy," they said.

The two described just who the world lost over the weekend.

"She was an angel because she was always so nice to people," they said.

Close family friend Shauna Bradley said losing Ella in this car accident is a devastating reminder about reality.

RELATED: 14-year-old killed, 4 others seriously injured after car crashes into dump truck

"A lot of the kids are starting to drive right now, and this has been really surreal in a way, considering just how everyone is scared of the transition is as our kids are growing up," she said.

The horrible wreck happened near 51st Avenue and Thunderbird Road. Police said the car the teens were in collided with a garbage truck and then hit a tree.

The spot is now marked with flowers and candles placed in Ella's memory.

"Keep her family in your thoughts and prayers. A parent should never have to go through losing a child," Bradley said.

Ella died at the scene; the other four people in the car are still in pretty bad shape. Bradley said the teenagers were out past curfew just being teenagers.

"It could've been any one of our kids last night. We just don't think for a second anything like this is going to happen to anyone close to us," she said.

The youngest of four siblings, Ella played volleyball and basketball and was going to start her freshman year at Deer Valley High School.

"She was always smiling, just a sweet, sweet girl," Bradley said.

At a candlelight vigil Monday night, Ella's teammates and teachers said their final goodbyes alongside family and friends.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the family with any expenses. 

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