WENDELL - Students dressed in green--Gavin Westover's favorite color--gathered together and mourned the loss of a 16-year-old who was a friend to everyone.

"This has been a long week for our kids," said East Wake High School principal and campus manager Craig Baker.

Westover died after the car he was riding in left Puryear Road in Knightdale, struck an embankment and overturned several times last Monday about 12:54 p.m. N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper Beckley Vaughan said speed was a factor.

Vaughan said Westover was a passenger in a car driven by Austin Marx, 17, of 204 Gail Ridge Court, Wendell. Marx, also a student at East Wake High School, was treated and released from WakeMed.

"There was a lot of emotion. They're just upset they've lost their friend. I think later they'll reflect on what was a very unfortunate accident," Baker said.

The funeral was held Sunday at Wendell Baptist Church. Arrangements were by Strickland Funeral Home.

"We have information to believe he (Marx) was traveling 85 to 90 miles an hour," said Vaughan, "well in excess of the posted speed limit." The posted speed was 55 miles an hour.

Vaughan said the teens were traveling on Puryear Road about 12:54 p.m. Monday, headed to Taco Bell in Knightdale during a lunch period the school allows away from campus. Charges are pending, he said.

Baker said he has contacted the highway patrol to help educate students on the danger of driving a car. He said a program will be added with parents and students to make contracts and pledge to drive safely. He also said he had contacted the Governor's Highway Safety program.

"It's very necessary at this time to speak to our students and help them make good decisions about their driving," he said.

"It's been tough on our school," Baker said.

This is the second accident that took the life of an East Wake High School student this year. Patrick McLaughlin, 17, of Zebulon, died Aug. 29 in an accident caused when he left the road on U.S. 64 near Lizard Lick Road and hit a tree.