ristin Strode buckled her seat belt and prepared for a two-hour drive from Lexington to Bowling Green.
The University of Kentucky student would soon pass the site where her friend, Rachel Blevins, died on Feb. 7 one year ago.
Interstate 65. Just past Upton, exit 76.
“It’s always a reminder to be careful, and it reminds me about her,” she said.
About 100 people attended a candlelight vigil Saturday on South Lawn to remember the lives of Blevins and her Phi Mu sorority sisters Rachel Cate and Katie Jeter.
Blevins, Cate, Jeter and two other women, all freshmen, were traveling to Louisville last year for a regional sorority meeting when their vehicle went off the road, hit a wall and tumbled over.
Blevins of Oakland, Cate of Nashville and Jeter of Franklin, Tenn., died at the scene of the wreck.
Three pink taper candles and three sets of pink carnations – the Phi Mu flower -?had been placed on a table at the vigil, representing each woman.
Jessica Sutton of Hendersonville, Tenn., and Cara Wright of Germantown, Tenn., were injured in the wreck.
Strode originally planned to host a group of Blevins’ friends at her home. But she later decided to hold a vigil on campus for all three women.
“I don’t ever want anyone to forget,” Strode said.
Most of the attendees were friends and family of Blevins or members of the Phi Mu sorority.
Strode attended Bowling Green High School with Blevins. She was also a member of the Wolfpack, a group of about 15 friends.
Blevins named the group during high school.
“That was just the perfect example of Rachel and how imaginative and creative she was,” Strode said.
The members of the Wolfpack held tight to pink balloons as their candles burned.
Strode reminded friends and family that the three girls were in a better place. Still, there were some tears.
Bowling Green sophomore Drew Krutza also played his guitar and sang:
“I can only imagine when all I will do is forever, forever worship you.”
Debbie Cherwak of Bowling Green attended the vigil in place of her son, Ges, who was in Atlanta for his first Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity national conference.
Ges, a Bowling Green sophomore and member of the Wolfpack, helped plan the vigil.
He said his mother convinced him to attend the conference.
“It was a tough decision, but I feel Rachel would want me to live my life,” he said.
As some embraced at the close of the vigil, the Wolfpack released their balloons and watched as they drifted into the night sky and out of sight.
Reach Shawntaye Hopkins at news@wkuherald.com.
.