Tonight, several community members visited the vigil site of 17-year-old Victoria Deverso, a Liverpool High School junior who was killed in a head-on car crash Monday afternoon May 24.

The Liverpool teen was the passenger in a vehicle driven by her friend Chelsea Kuss, 18, of Syracuse, who survived the crash, but was taken transported to Crouse Hospital for major injuries. Cicero resident Peggy Blume, 38, who was in the opposite lane of traffic operating the other vehicle involved, is still in the hospital.

Deverso did not attend school that day and was returning from Sylvan Beach when the accident occurred.

How will Liverpool be without the presence of Deverso?

According to 2009 LHS graduate Miranda Ayers, whose family has been long-time friends with the Deverso family, simply said, “Liverpool’s not the same, everyone’s shut down.”

Teddy bears, balloons, flower petals and bouquets, candles, and a wooden white cross filled with friends’ signatures adorn the site of the vigil.

Calling hours for Victoria have been scheduled from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday May 28 at Pirro & Sons Funeral Home in Syracuse.

A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday May 29 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Liverpool.

Contributions can be made in Victoria’s memory to Mothers Against Drinking and Driving (MADD), 174 Bangall Road, Parish, N.Y. 13131.

For the full story and memoriam, pick up the June 2 edition of the Star-Review.

Photo taken by Farah Jadran Pike during the May 26 vigil held at 7 p.m. where the accident occurred on Route 31 in the town of Sullivan.