IRVINE – Students arrived at Northwood High School wearing white tees and shirts Tuesday morning, a sign to celebrate the life and mourn the loss of a classmate killed in a Sunday crash.

Five people were injured in the holiday weekend crash that killed Ashton Sweet, a 14-year-old cheerleader at Northwood High School. She suffered an irreversible brain injury.

Sweet had been kept alive on a breathing machine so her organs could be evaluated for donation. She was declared dead at 1 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Orange County Coroner’s Office. Ashton’s parents had made the determination to allow for organ donation, police officials said.

Krista Merassa, 15, was reported in critical condition.             

“This is just devastating,” said Ian Hanigan, spokesman for the Irvine Unified School District. “There is nothing worse that our school community can go through than to lose somebody so young. Our thoughts and our prayers are with Ashton’s family, as well as with all of those who were in the car.”

On Tuesday morning, several students at Northwood High School were seen wearing white, walking past n

On Tuesday morning, several students at Northwood High School were seen wearing white, walking past news vans and reporters on their way to class.

Austin Jeffrey Farley was taken into custody after the Sunday morning crash on suspicion of driving under the influence. According to online arrest records, he is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

No formal charges have been filed against the 26-year-old driver. The investigation is open and the District Attorney’s Office does not have all of the evidence so a decision has not  been made on filing charges, Chief of Staff Susan Kang Schroeder said.

Farley has had several run-ins with the law, including previous DUI arrests, according to court records.

Farley was arrested by the California Highway Patrol on May 4, 2004. Being a 19-year-old driver at the time, he was charged with being a minor with a blood-alcohol-content of .05 percent or more, court records show. That charge was dismissed in June 2004 after he was sentenced to a diversion program.

In July 2004, Farley was back in court, charged with having a license suspended after allegedly refusing to submit to a chemical test. Farley pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to three years probation and $300 in fines.

In February 2009, he was pulled over by authorities again. He was charged with driving under the influence, disobeying a court order, battery on a peace officer and driving with a suspended license. He pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to three years of probation, 104 hours of service in lieu of fines, 30 days in jail, six months in a first-offender alcohol program, and to attend a victim’s panel for Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Friends and family said the four girls were out celebrating a friend’s birthday Saturday night and were being driven home by the father of the girls when the crash occurred about 1 a.m. Sunday.

Michael Ghaemi, 48, was driving the girls in an E-Class Mercedes-Benz on Culver Drive. He said he was passing through Irvine Boulevard when they were struck by a pickup on the left-rear side of the car.

On Sunday night, friends and family of the girls gathered at the site of the crash, lighting candles, bringing flowers and leaving notes for Ashton.

“We are doing our best to support the kids,” Hanigan said.

Five counselors are expected to be available on campus Tuesday, reaching out to friends and classmates of the teenage girls injured in the crash.

Ashton was a cheerleader and in track-and-field, Hanigan said. She was also involved in the high school’s “Wolfpack” club, which pairs special-needs students with other students for school activities.

Cause of the Irvine Car Accident

If news accounts in the Orange County Register are accurate, Austen Jeffrey Farley likely is responsible for causing this accident, because he was allegedly driving under the influence and a high rate of speed. However, the incident is still under investigation by the Irvine Police Department and an official determination of the cause of the Orange County crash has not been made.

Personal Injury Liability for Drunk Driving Accidents

Drivers who choose to drink and drive may be liable for the consequences of their actions. In situations such as this one, the driver may be financially liable for medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other damages. While this accident remains under investigation, the victim’s family would be well-advised to contact an experienced and knowledgeable DUI Lawyer such as Gary A. Kessler. An attorney who specializes in representing victims of drunk driving accidents can help the injured victims protect their rights and ultimately recover the maximum compensation they are entitled to receive.