Now they are mourning the death of the popular 2008 Canon-McMillan High School graduate.

Chauvet, of Canonsburg, was killed in a two-car crash about 6:35 p.m. Nov. 1 not far from the Altoona campus of Penn State University in Blair County, where she was a sophomore education major.

Logan Township police Chief Ron Heller said Chauvet was a back-seat passenger in a Honda Civic driven by her friend, Kaitlyn Leavins, 18, of Glen Mills. Three other co-eds were also in the car.

The girls' vehicle was southbound on Chestnut Avenue and was getting ready to make a left turn on to Juniata Gap Road, Heller said. "The driver had a green light, but made the turn into the path of a Jaguar."

Another back-seat passenger, Nicole Lawrence, 18, of Columbia, Md., was ejected from the car. Leavins, along with passengers Alyssa Walsh, 18, of Downingtown, and Holly Hamilton, 19, of Sinking Spring, also were injured. Lawrence is in critical condition, and the other three have since been released from the hospital. The driver of the Jaguar, Jason Sanders, 30, of Altoona, refused treatment.

Heller said Leavins and front-seat passenger Walsh wore seat belts. He said it has not been determined whether the other girls were buckled up.

Heller said the girls had just left Martin's General Store, a popular spot for PSU students to pick up groceries. They were heading back to an off-campus apartment complex where they lived.

The intersection where the accident occurred is rather straightforward, Heller said.

"We've only had 15 crashes there in the last 15 years," Heller said. "We are continuing the investigation and won't make any determination whether charges will be filed until that is complete."

Heller said it appears driver error may have been the cause.

"It is just an unfortunate accident," the chief added.

Marissa Lohm said she and Nicole had been friends since they were in sixth or seventh grade. The two graduated together in 2008.

"She helped me when I was going through some problems," Lohm said Monday. "She had a really big heart."

Chauvet, who was a Big Macs cheerleader, also was on Penn State's squad, Lohm said. She also was quite active, doing volunteer work.

"She was majoring in elementary education," Lohm said. "She loved kids."

Lohm said Chauvet always wanted to go to Penn State and planned to transfer to the main campus next year.

"There was no other school for her," Lohm said. "She loved Joe Paterno.

"She was obsessed with her horoscope. She'd read it every single day," her friend said. "And she was very superstitious."

Lohm said Chauvet was really enjoying school this year and meeting new friends.

"She was her parents' pride and joy," Lohm said of Nicole's parents, Lisa and Mike Chauvet. She also had an older brother, Ryan Chauvet.

Reid Whitlock also graduated with Chauvet. The two remained close.

"Nicole was very outgoing," said Whitlock, who is with the U.S. Air Force stationed at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, D.C. "She could always put a smile on your face. She was a friend you could count on. You could call her at 3 a.m. for some advice.

"She was just a great person to be around," he added. "She was friends with everyone. That's just the way she was."