Larissa Daniels was a quiet and sweet student, but very driven, remembers Anita Serge, who taught her seventh-grade math at Strayer Middle School.

"She always did what was asked of her," said Serge. "She was an excellent student and it wasn't just academics."

Serge's opinion had not changed a few years later when their paths crossed again at Quakertown Community High School, where Daniels was then an honor roll student and Serge was assistant principal.

"She was just awesome," said Serge, now principal of the high school.

So it came as a great shock to her and the entire school community when they heard Daniels had been killed in a car crash Wednesday on Union Road in Richland.

The 18-year-old Haycock woman had graduated high school only six months earlier and was believed to be attending East Stroudsburg University.

"Any time there is a death of one of our young students (it's difficult). They are still a part of us," said Serge.

But Daniels' connection to the district went deeper than most. Her mother, Lisa, is the nurse at Haycock Elementary School, where Daniels attended as a child.

"It's a tragedy," said Serge.

Richland police are continuing to investigate what caused the crash that killed Daniels. According to police, her Honda Civic collided with a large box truck on Union Road near Apple Road. Police believe Daniels had been traveling east on Union Road away from Richlandtown.

But for some reason still unknown, she was driving on the wrong side of the road, and was in the same lane as the oncoming truck, which was driven by Robert Moyer, 46, of Milford, said police.

"He was as far off to the right side of the road as he could be. Daniels' vehicle was on the wrong side," said Richland Police Chief Larry Cerami.

The truck crashed into the passenger side of Daniels' car. Daniels, who was wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene. Moyer was not injured.

No other passengers were in the vehicles.

At this point, there is no indication of alcohol or drug use, said police.

Police also do not believe weather was a factor.

Although it was drizzling around the time of the 2:30 p.m. accident, the road was for the most part dry. Ice and snow from last weekend's storm still lined the shoulders and ditches along the thoroughfare.

The accident occurred just below a bridge on Union Road, but after their initial investigation, police do not think the width of the span played a role either, said Cerami.

Cerami was not sure where Daniels was headed at the time of the accident.

Her family declined to comment for this story.