'We want to remember Haley': Friends, family remembering 19-year-old killed in Union Township crash

UNION TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A 19-year-old girl is is dead after a crash in Union Township.

It happened Friday just after midnight on Old State Route 74 near Stoddard Lane. The roadway was closed between Harrison Drive and Olive Branch Stonelick Drive through the morning.

This was in part to allow Duke Energy crews to repair a utility pole and restore power to about 1,300 people, according to Duke Energy.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) said Haley Denton was driving a 2012 Ford Fusion northwest when she traveled off the left side of the roadway. The vehicle struck a mailbox and a utility pole before overturning.

The Clermont County Coroner's Office said Denton was pronounced dead at the scene. Her two passengers, a 20-year-old and a juvenile, were injured.

The juvenile was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. The 20-year-old is in serious condition but is expected to recover, investigators said.

Denton's friends and family grieved Friday, some coming to where the crash happened to create a makeshift memorial.

"It's so sad. You never know what someone's going through or what's going to happen to them," said Marissa Rycek, Denton's friend. "When we drive by here, we want to remember Haley instead of just a bad car accident."

Rycek said she found out what happened through her sister.

"My sister texted me and said, 'Haley's dead.' and I said, 'What?'" she said.

Rycek said Denton's personality was like sunshine.

"She was very loving, she was hard headed as most of us are. She just, she was powerful, you know and everybody wanted to be around her," she said.

OSHP said this crash remains under investigation.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help Denton's family with funeral expenses.