A Friday night that began like any other ended in unimaginable heartbreak after 19-year-old Chloe Verni-Lau lost her life in a devastating head-on collision on Spring Creek Road. Her sudden death has left family, friends, and everyone who knew her struggling to comprehend how a young life filled with possibility could be taken away so quickly.

According to the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, the crash happened at approximately 10:54 p.m. Friday on Spring Creek Road. Authorities said Shaquan Hayes, 28, was driving a Ford Taurus while intoxicated when he crossed the center line and collided head-on with an oncoming Toyota.

Chloe was among the occupants of the Toyota. Three people inside the vehicle were transported to hospitals with serious injuries following the collision. Despite medical efforts, Chloe was later pronounced dead at approximately 11:42 p.m. An autopsy determined that her cause of death was multiple blunt-force trauma resulting from the crash.

For Chloe’s loved ones, the news was devastating. At only 19 years old, she had so much life ahead of her—dreams to pursue, places to see, experiences to embrace, and countless memories that should have been made. Instead, her family is now facing the unimaginable pain of planning a future without her.

The crash also left three other people seriously injured, adding another layer of sorrow to an already heartbreaking tragedy. Their recovery will continue to be an important part of the aftermath as their families and loved ones hope for healing.

Hayes suffered minor injuries and was later booked into the Boone County Jail on charges of DUI causing death and driving under the influence.