Winnipeg teen killed in rollover was a soccer star, coach says
Austin Grabish | CBC News | Posted: October 2, 2016 5:46 PM | Last Updated: October 3, 2016
Friends, family release balloons for Julia Peters after 17-year-old dies in crash
A 17-year-old girl killed in a rollover Saturday morning is being remembered for her big heart and her skills on the soccer pitch.
Julia Peters died early Saturday morning after her car hit the ditch and rolled over in Headingley.
Her soccer coach Ian Holland said students from Oak Park High School are grappling with news of the death.
Holland, who has known Peters since she was 10-years-old, described her as a girl with a big heart and a strong soccer player.
He said she had a smile on her face all the time.
"She was a great defender. In 2012, I was part of the coaching staff of the Manitoba Summer Games team and she was on that team and we won a gold medal."
"She was fun to be around, her teammates loved her."
He said Peters was looking forward to graduating high school this year.
"That's the real tragedy of this," he said.
Holland said friends of Peters gathered to mourn Saturday night.
"I had them all over here last night," he said. "They were all pretty upset."
Close to 150 friends and family members gathered near the site of the crash Sunday night. RCMP shut down one lane of the Trans-Canada Highway while mourners released balloons in memory of the 17-year-old.
A GoFundMe page was set up Saturday to support Peters' family.
RCMP continue to investigate the crash and don't believe alcohol was a factor. Police believe Peters wasn't wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.