602 and Haven Court, to leave flowers and grieve

602 and Haven Court, to leave flowers and grieve together.

The Haven Court entrance was littered with bits of vehicle debris, and new stains were on the asphalt. No brake marks could be seen on the highway pavement.

Brittany Booth, 17, said she just needed to be there, close to her friend.

"She was such a good person," Booth said. "Always doing other things for people, never for herself. She was a very giving person."

Joined by her friend Amber Wilson, 17, Booth laid flowers by the side of the road where Dudley was killed.

The two girls hugged and cried for several minutes.

For Robby Hamblin, 16, this was a return trip to the site.

Hamblin, who works as a volunteer emergency medical technician for Company One out of Warrenton, was dispatched to the scene of the accident early Sunday afternoon.

At the time, Hamblin did not know it was his friend who had been killed.

"I kept looking at her, she looked so familiar," Hamblin said. "It was the first time I had seen a body and it had to be my friend. People were afraid I wouldn't want to be a volunteer anymore, but this just makes me want to be one even more."

He added, "She was such a sweet, beautiful girl. She had no enemies in the world."

At the site, Hamblin walked his friends through the accident, explaining what had happened to the rising senior.

"She didn't suffer," Hamblin said, choked with emotion. "I think that is important for them to hear that."

Dudley's aunt Bonnie Haines remembers the teenager fondly. Haines said that during the school year, Dudley lived with her father Greg Simpson and Haines' sister Wanda Simpson of Warrenton, but decided to stay the summer with her mother Shannon Elkins and her stepfather.

Haines said, "I called her Smiley.' She had all the hopes and dreams like most young girls and wanted to be a basketball player.

"She was such a sweet and loving child," Haines said. "We will really miss her."

Sarah L. Greenhalgh may be reached at sgreenhalgh@ timespapers.com.