A 15-year-old girl who was critically injured in the fatal crash of an all-terrain vehicle on Friday died of her injuries yesterday at University Hospital.

Rebecca L. Donnelly died at about 1 p.m. She was critically injured while riding as a passenger on an ATV driven by Aaron David Morefield, 16, of Ashland. The four-wheel vehicle veered off Cedar Tree Lane southwest of Ashland and struck a tree between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Friday.

Morefield, of Ashland, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Nancy Holland, a guidance counselor at Southern Boone County High School, said Donnelly had transferred in from Naperville, Ill., at the start of the second semester and made friends quickly.

"She was a really nice girl," Holland said. "She just got absorbed into the school really quickly."

A basketball and soccer player, Donnelly had just finished her freshman year.

The high school was open yesterday morning for students to speak with guidance counselors, but only a handful of students came, Holland said. Many went to University Hospital and kept vigil waiting to hear of Donnellys condition.

Holland, who visited the hospital Friday night as well as yesterday, said between 40 and 50 teens waited, prayed and cried together.

"I havent talked to the kids since I was at the hospital, but they were very supportive of each other and the family," she said.

The Boone County Sheriffs Department said it appeared Donnelly had worn the only helmet found at the crash scene.

Although the road is winding, the stretch where the accident occurred is straight and narrow.

Sheriffs Maj. Tom Reddin said speed might have been a factor in the loss of control.

"That is certainly a belief," he said. "The investigation is not complete."

Pat Lacy, the high school girls basketball coach and athletic director, described Donnelly as a hard worker who played varsity basketball her freshman year.

He and Donnellys teammates were at the hospital when news of her passing was announced.

"It was very tough," he said. "Parents would love to have her as their own kid."