Middle school girl killed in golf cart crash in North Carolina

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A Mooresville community is grieving after a heartbreaking accident claimed the life of a young girl on Monday evening. Authorities said a golf cart crash involving several children happened just off Brawley School Road, at the intersection of Swamp Rose Drive and Golden Star Lane. One young girl later died from her injuries. “It’s sad, you know, because this community, kids play during the day and have fun. We lose a kid to having fun. It is truly sad,” said neighbor Eddie Schenk. Neighbors said the girl was a student at Woodland Heights Middle School, located just around the corner from where the crash happened. On Tuesday, school officials announced they are providing extra support for students and staff as they cope with the loss. A neighbor told Queen City News the crash happened near a light pole at the intersection. Police returned to the scene on Tuesday to continue mapping out what happened. The loss is being felt across the community. Neighbors said the girl was a longtime cheerleader at ATA Cheer Lake Norman. In a social media post, the gym described Julia Rooney as a teammate, a friend, “a light in the gym,” and someone who made an impact on everyone she met. “She’s in a better place, but we all miss her. We’re missing her. And this community is going to deal with it for a while,” Schenk said. The crash happened around 5:15 p.m. Monday and involved several juveniles, according to police. The investigation is ongoing, and no charges have been announced. In a statement, the Iredell-Statesville School District said counselors and additional resources are being made available to help students process their grief. “Our thoughts are with the families impacted during this difficult time,” police said.