16-year-old Eastside grad dies in wreck

A 16-year-old Bradford County girl was killed and her friend injured in an accident in northeast Alachua County early Saturday morning.

Dead is Ashley M. Ray of Starke, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Receiving minor injuries was her friend, Amber Burgess, 17, of Lake City. Burgess was taken to Shands at the University of Florida.

The accident happened at around 2 a.m. on County Road 225 about a half-mile south of NE 54th Street. County Road 225 is the road on which Gainesville Raceway is located; the accident occurred well north of the raceway.

According to an FHP report, Ray was driving a 2000 Plymouth north on CR 225 and failed to properly negotiate a curve. Her car rotated counterclockwise and traveled onto the west shoulder, became airborne and struck several trees.

The car was upside down when it stopped, FHP said. Ray, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was partially ejected, reported FHP. She was pronounced dead at the scene by Alachua County EMS.

Ray’s MySpace page indicates she graduated from Eastside High School last year and was a student at Santa Fe Community College studying sonography and cardiovascular technology.

Nikayla Wilborn, a cousin of Ray reached through MySpace, the popular social networking Web site, said Ray was from Chicago and moved to Florida around the age of 12. She said Ray was an “A” student and had been home-schooled.

“Ashley graduated from high school early at the age of 16 and she was going to college,” Wilborn said.

Ray enjoyed cooking and hanging out with friends, Wilborn said.

Cindy Swirko can be reached at 374-5024 or at swirkoc@gvillesun.com.