The daughter of a millionaire Lowes executive died early Saturday after plowing her Porsche supercar into a tree – reportedly while speeding.
Stella Grace Bright, 16, was driving her 2014 Porsche 911 near Lake Norman, North Carolina, when she flew off the road and crashed into a rock wall, killing the teen and two others in her car in the were admitted to hospital.
One of the two passengers was in the back of the Porsche, even though it is a two-seater that does not fit passengers in the back seat. Bright, who has a twin sister named Livi, and the other front seat passenger were both seatbelted.
The person in the back wasn’t wearing one. The identities of the injured victims have not been released and updates on their conditions have not been shared.
The tragedy unfolded around 3:20 a.m. Saturday, less than two miles from her family’s lavish $2.6 million lake home.
Heartbreaking tributes have poured in following the 16-year-old’s death, with her grief-stricken twin brother mourning the loss of her ‘other half’.
“I don’t know how to live another day without you. You meant the world to me and you still do. You didn’t deserve to go that fast, you really didn’t,” she said. “I won’t stop thinking about you and I know you want me to be happy, so I’m going to try to be happy just for you.”
Tributes have poured in for Stella Grace Bright after she tragically died following a late-night car crash near Lake Norman, North Carolina
Authorities determined Bright was speeding when she crashed her Porsche supercar into a tree and a rock wall, killing the teen and hospitalizing two others.
The 16-year-old was driving her 2014 Porsche 911 sports car when the tragedy occurred around 3:20 a.m. on Saturday (stock photo)
In a news release after the crash, North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper Christopher Casey declined to say what speed the teen was traveling at before the crash, but determined it was the contributing factor to the wreck.
It is unclear whether the supercar – which has a top speed of 310 km/h – was owned directly by Bright, or whether she was insured on a car owned by her parents Teresa and Chris. Local news broadcasts, including the Charlotte Observer described the car as hers.
As an investigation was launched to determine the cause of the tragic accident, police closed the accident scene for more than three hours.
The collision occurred near Mansfield Loop, about five miles from Donald Trump’s Trump National Charlotte golf course.
Casey did not elaborate on what Bright and her two friends were doing before the crash, in which the teen succumbed to her injuries less than two miles from her luxury family home on Lake Norman.
The picturesque lake house is adorned with a private pier, saltwater pool, and lavish spa.
Her father, Chris Bright, is vice president of Market Delivery & Final Mile at Lowe’s, the second largest home improvement retailer in America.
He joined the company three years ago and previously worked as vice president of supply chain at Nordstrom, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Stella’s mother Teresa has a gift business and regularly posted photos of her daughters and their beautiful home online. The family is originally from the Pacific Northwest.
The crash occurred around 3:20 a.m. Saturday, less than two miles from the Bright family’s lavish $2.6 million lake home on Lake Norman.
The teen’s father, Chris Bright, is an executive at Lowe’s and previously worked as a vice president at Nordstrom
Bright’s distressed friends described her as a fun and fun teenager who would “light up the room.” She is pictured with a friend and her twin sister Livi.
The teenager’s girlfriend Jocelyn Carroll (right) said Bright ‘always knew how to put a smile on someone’s face’
Bright is shown trying on a hat. She died after her Porsche crashed in the early hours of Saturday
Following news of the 16-year-old’s death, her heartbroken friends and family have shared poignant memories with the teenager, describing her as a kind and warm person who ‘lighted up the room’.
Her best friend Jocelyn Carroll took to Instagram to share memories with the teen, saying, “Rest in peace my best friend in the entire universe.
“I can’t even put into words how grateful I am to have met you and to have been a part of your life. You are so wonderful and caring, kind and talented and you had such a beautiful soul.
“You always know how to put a smile on someone’s face… you were the best sister I never had and I miss you so much. I’m so sorry I never got to say goodbye.’
Another friend, Nikki Degroot, said she had known the teenager for two years and would miss her “sweet smile” and “hilarious sense of humor.”
“There are absolutely no words to describe how much you were loved and how we will all miss you so much,” she continued in the post alongside photos of a smiling Bright with her friends.
“You lit up every room you walked into and I loved every minute I ever spent with you.”
Many of the teen’s friends took to social media to share poignant memories with her
Bright’s mournful friends said they “loved every minute” they spent with her
Bright’s multimillion-dollar lake home features a private pier, saltwater pool and lavish spa
Those who knew Bright added that she was an outgoing and fun-loving 16-year-old because, according to her friend Ryleigh Ackermann, the sociable teenager always knew how to “make people laugh in a difficult situation.”
“Words can’t even describe how much my heart hurts for you and everyone else involved,” she said in a social media post.
“I wish we could have spent the rest of our high school experience together. I would do anything to get another hug from you.
‘You were a beautiful, smart, caring, bubbly girl. I know you will always be there looking out for all of us… you were the sweetest soul and you went too soon.”