Lakeland teen killed in rollover crash on I-4

LAKELAND, Fla. - Stephanie Carroll's friends say she was impossible not to like. 

Savanna West said Stephanie was outgoing and always had a smile on her face. Now, Savanna is holding on to the memory of that smile after Stephanie's life came to an abrupt and tragic end Saturday in a crash on Interstate 4.

Stephanie and three friends were being driven by Stephanie's 17-year-old boyfriend, Ruben Ramirez back from Tampa to Lakeland when Ramirez lost control of his truck. It careened into the median and flipped.

Stephanie was killed.

Ruben and passengers in the back seat were injured. He was listed in fair condition at Tampa General Hospital on Monday.

Adding to the trauma of losing her friend, Savanna is now haunted by images of the crash. She and her boyfriend were also on their way back from Tampa and passed the crash.

"We were like, 'Oh my gosh, what a terrible accident.' We didn't know," she explained to FOX 13.

Stephanie recently graduated from Lake Gibson High School and celebrated her 18th birthday a few weeks ago.

Her former principal, Ryan Vann said in a statement, "Stephanie Carroll was a very sweet member of the Lake Gibson High family. She was always smiling and brought a positive outlook to class every day. She was known for being a kind and faithful friend. She was intelligent, and she stood up for what she believed to be right and just."

"I miss her already," said one her close friends, Tearyn Olson. "I just wanna cry. I wanna cry all day. I don't want to do anything else."

Stephanie's friends are raising money online and at several upcoming events, including a carwash Sunday at the Autozone, 6925 US 98 North in Lakeland.