Cheerleader's death stuns high school

Students at Newport High School in Bellevue on Monday mourned the loss of Taryn Gillies, an effervescent cheerleader known for her outgoing personality.

Gillies, an 18-year-old senior at Newport, was killed Friday in a car crash on Highway 26 in Adams County. She was on her way back from a visit to Washington State University, where she hoped to attend college, according to friends.

About 400 students gathered at the Newport High flagpole before class Monday morning to comfort each other and leave photos, flowers and notes in honor of Gillies. Some stayed for hours, long after classes had begun.

"It's been a very difficult day," said Newport principal Bethany Spinler.

Gillies was traveling with her friend Callie Turner, also a senior at Newport; Turner's mother, Deborah Turner; and Deborah Turner's boyfriend, Matthew Andresen, according to friends and the State Patrol. The Dodge Caravan driven by Andresen veered over the center line and collided with a U-Haul truck, state troopers said.

Andresen and Gillies were killed. Callie Turner was in serious condition and Deborah Turner was in satisfactory condition Monday afternoon at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. All four people in the van were wearing seat belts, according to the State Patrol.

Gillies was a member of the school cheerleading team and junior-varsity gymnastics team, according to friends. She also was part of a Spanish-immersion class that had attended class together since kindergarten.

She was outgoing, popular and funny, with an outsize personality, friends said.

According to Spinler, Gillies was a good student who was well liked by teachers and her peers. "She's a great kid, and it's a big loss and difficult time for the school," she said.

A memorial fund has been set up in Gillies' name at Wells Fargo, 4020 Factoria Blvd. S.E., in Bellevue. Some students also are planning to sell bracelets with Gillies' name as a way to offset some of the funeral costs for her family, according to teachers.

Ashley Bach: 206-464-2567 or abach@seattletimes.com