Posted: 8:03 PM Aug 17, 2012

Friends and family pay tribute to William Blount student killed in car crash

BLOUNT CO., Tenn (WVLT) -- A cross marks the spot Amelia Keown is supposed to be parked for Friday night's game.

Now, all that's left for her friends and family is pictures and memories.

"I knew Amelia like she was my sister," says Ashlyn Peterson, Amelia's friend and teammate, "It's gonna be emotional. It's gonna be really hard. Just this past weekend we were having a fundraiser at a yard sale where all the girls were together. It's pretty tragic."

Before Friday's home opener at William Blount High School, Amelia's dance teammates and their parents were selling t-shirts and other crafts to try and raise money for her family. Ashley Morris's daughter, Chappel, is on the team and says it's been a tough week for his family.

"Gosh, inconsolable. I couldn't understand her at first, tried to get her to slow down and tell me what was going on, it was horrible, " says Ashley Morris.

William Blount fans packed the stands in all sorts of pink, Amelia's favorite color. The fans were still rowdy, but the mood before the game was somber. Instead of performing the dance team took the field in silence and Amelia's name was announced last. Amelia's parents stood beside the team as they released balloons up to the sky, where they are sure Amelia is watching.


"We love Amelia. She'll always be in our hearts...She's gonna be okay but right now she's having a tough time with it. All of them are," says Peterson.

The dance team will be dedicating the rest of the season to their memory. There is a fund set up in Amelia's name through William Blount High School. Friends tell us there will be more fundraisers to help the family.

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