Friends: Millbrook student who died in wreck Saturday was sweet, happy

RALEIGH -- Millbrook High junior Gabby Zullo says today will be tough as students return to school for the first time after a beloved classmate died in a wreck early Saturday.

"It's going to be really hard going and not seeing her," Zullo said of her friend, Elizabeth Molloy, as she stood next to a makeshift memorial for her friend on Rainwater Road.

Molloy, of Raleigh, was a passenger in a 1999 Jeep SUV driven by Millbrook student Garrett Prince, 16, according to police.

Prince is charged with driving while impaired, provisional driving while impaired, felony death by motor vehicle, careless and reckless driving, speeding, having an open container of spirituous liquor in the vehicle and possession of marijuana.

This afternoon, Prince briefly appeared in court, where his bail was set at $50,000. He was moving around on crutches and had evidence of injuries to his chin and left eye.

The accident occurred about 2:15 a.m. Saturday in the 6700 block of Rainwater Road when Prince apparently lost control of the SUV and ran off the road and struck a tree, police reported.

At the corner of Rainwater Road and Bellechasse Drive on Sunday, bouquets of flowers rested as two candles burned in the cool afternoon air. A sign next to the flowers contained words of sadness - "RIP Liz," "You will be missed Liz" and "You will never be forgotten."

Rainwater Road has a speed limit of 30 mph, according to a sign near the accident scene. People were out and about near the crash scene as cars slowed down to get a look, a woman walked her dog and a child played nearby.

According to an obituary for Molloy, the 17-year-old served as an after-school counselor at the YMCA, a member of student government and a volunteer tutor. She had plans to apply to the business management program at N.C. State University.

Zullo, 16, fondly recalled going shopping with Molloy and the time when the best friends went to the beach and Molloy got a bad sunburn.

"She was so sweet," Zullo said. "She had like the biggest heart. She was so outgoing. No one had anything ever mean to say about her."

Zullo was one of about 100 people who turned out for a vigil Saturday to honor Molloy. "It was so nice to see all those people come out and support her," she said.

Wake County Superintendent Tony Tata said in a statement: "All of our thoughts and prayers go out to their families, friends and loved ones. If Millbrook students want to talk to someone, our school system will have counselors available for them at school (today). We appreciate your support of our students and of the entire Millbrook High family in this difficult time."

Visitation for Molloy will be 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home on Millbrook Road. Funeral services are set for 11 a.m. Wednesday at Saint Raphael The Archangel Catholic Church at 5801 Falls of the Neuse Road.