A Florida teenager who posted a viral video saying she had never been in a car crash was killed just days after uploading the video to TikTok.
Kara Santorelli, 18, was hit head-on by a vehicle while she was driving down Highway 29 in Escambia County, Florida on March 17.
The teen, who had more than 44,000 followers on TikTok, had posted a video six days before the crash that has now been viewed more than 15 million times.
‘When they try to call me a bad driver but I’ve never hit a person or an actual car,’ Santorelli wrote over a video of herself behind the driver’s wheel of her car.
The comments section of the six-second clip has since been flooded with friends and those who did not know her telling her to ‘rest in peace.’
A Florida teenager who posted a viral video saying she had never been in a car crash was killed just days after uploading the video to TikTok
Kara Santorelli, 18, was hit head-on by a vehicle while she was driving down Highway 29 in Escambia County, Florida in the early morning hours of March 17
According to Florida Highway Patrol, the sedan that struck the teenager was driving down the highway on the wrong side before it hit her.
After making impact, the Chevy caught fire. Both drivers died at the scene.
Santorelli had posted four videos to TikTok the day before her death, showing herself at the beach and behind the passenger’s seat of a vehicle.
The last video has now been viewed more than three million times.
According to her obituary, the 18-year-old loved being active on TikTok and making videos with her friends and family.
In a memorial post on Facebook, Santorelli’s aunt said she was heartbroken.
‘A little piece of my heart died today when I found out my niece went to heaven. I love your beautiful soul Kara!’ wrote Gina Southard.
The girl’s mother also made a heart-shattering post after her death was confirmed.
‘I love you Kara. God blessed me with you,’ wrote Lacey McLaughlin, her mother.
The teen, who had more than 44,000 followers on TikTok, had posted a video six days before the crash has now been viewed more than 15 million times
The comments section of the six-second clip has since been flooded with friends and those who did not know her telling her to ‘rest in peace’
According to Florida Highway Patrol, the sedan that struck the teenager was driving down the highway on the wrong side before it hit her
After making impact, the Chevy caught fire. Both drivers died at the scene
‘A little piece of my heart died today when I found out my niece went to heaven. I love your beautiful soul Kara!’ wrote Gina Southard, Santorelli’s aunt, in a social media post
‘If you didn’t know Kara you missed out on knowing a very special person and it’s a void in our hearts,’ the restaurant where Santorelli worked wrote in a Facebook tribute
In a statement, Northview High School officials remembered the teenager who was just months out from graduation.
‘We hold tight to beautiful memories that she had left with us. Her beautiful smile and kind spirit will continue to be in the hearts of her friends and classmates,’ school representatives said.
The restaurant where Santorelli worked also posted a tribute to the teenager, saying she was a bright light in customers’ days.
‘If you didn’t know Kara you missed out on knowing a very special person and it’s a void in our hearts,’ the restaurant wrote.
‘We will always remember you and know that you can put a smile on everyone’s face even through the rough times!’ the post continued.
On Saturday, a memorial was held at Pensacola Beach to remember the teen.
