Family, friends and members of the community gathered Wednesday night for a candlelight vigil at Wahby Park to remember Rebecca Wheaton.

Relatives, classmates and those who knew Wheaton gathered around the gazebo in the park to share stories that brought the crowd—which was in excess of 100—to laugh and cry as they remembered the 19-year-old St. Clair Shores resident killed in a crash shortly after Christmas night on Interstate 94 in Chesterfield Township.

"She showed love to all people," said Angela Loffredi, Wheaton's second cousin, who appreciated the memorial. "My heart is overjoyed."

The candlelight memorial was organized by her friends including her classmates from South Lake's class of 2011. The nearly hour-long memorial concluded with a launch of blue and white balloons into the night sky.

Mary Piazza, who was one of the organizers, went to school with Wheaton and described her as friendly and full of life.

"She made life a good time," said Piazza, who was glad so many of their friends could come back together to remember their friend.

Her boyfriend and passenger, a 19-year-old Algonac man, remained in critical condition Tuesday morning, Chesterfield Township Police Detective Sgt. Deron Myers said.

The teens were returning home from a Christmas gathering at 12:20 a.m. Monday when Wheaton lost control of her Volkswagen Jetta, crashing into a guardrail, he said.

Moments later, a 27-year-old Chesterfield man, who was unaware of the accident and unable to stop in time, crashed his Lincoln Mark III into the Jetta. Investigators are not sure if the teens were inside the Jetta at the time or if they were hit while standing outside the car, said Myers, adding that neither of them were inside the car when emergency responders arrived.

A Michigan State Police investigator is reconstructing the accident. A witness reported seeing the Jetta travel at a high rate of speed before the crash, but police said they do not have any witnesses of the actual accident.

The Chesterfield driver, who along with his 26-year-old Macomb Township passenger suffered minor injuries, was not under the influence of alcohol. Police say toxicology tests are pending.

Visitation will be 2-9 p.m. Thursday at A.H. Peters Funeral, 20705 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Woods. A funeral mass will be held at Friday at St. Lucy Catholic Church.