16-year-old Carrie Gjelhaug died when she was thrown from her car. We talked to 18-year-old Glen Wheelock who was in the back seat during the crash, as well as a few of Carrie’s friends.

They say it's been a long, difficult day with lots of tears.

It was supposed to be a quick trip to a local restaurant.

But that trip Wednesday afternoon, ended in tragedy.

"All I know is I looked up and we were in the wrong land headed for the ditch,” said Wheelock.

Investigators say 16-year-old Carrie Gjelhaug had her friend, 17-year-old Leah Cohoon, hold the wheel while she took off her necklace.

Deputies say seconds later, Carrie lost control of the car.

Chippewa County Chief Deputy Jim Clark says it appears Carrie tried to turn back into the right lane and went too far, into the ditch.

He says when she headed back for the road, she caught the curb and the car started to roll.

"Bunch of white noise and I remember seeing the ground come at me and I put my arm up, like I almost went through the window,” said Wheelock.

Clark says Carrie was thrown from the car.

Paramedics rushed her to the hospital, but it was too late.

Carrie was pronounced dead.

"It's been really hard. A lot of people are crying and some of her friends that have known for a long time, they don't really believe that she's dead,” said Troi Hanna, Carrie’s friend.

"She loved life and I know that this isn't the way she wanted to go,” said Christina Hanson, another friend.

Deputies say Carrie and the other passengers were not wearing seat belts, which could have saved her life.

"When we look at the collision we had last night, It may have made a huge difference in that type of crash,” said Clark.

"Just buckle up. That's the only reason she didn't get to live through it because she didn't have her seat belt on,” said friend Brad Makare.

Carrie's friends say she was spunky and always happy.

Just a week ago, Carrie participated in a school safe driving program where she went to classes silently to show people what it would be like if she had died in a car accident.

People we talked to say they still can't believe she's gone.