At 16, Biscayne Park resident Casey Hersch already had ideas about what she wanted from life: continue education, become a doctor and take care of her family.

But a crash on Interstate 95 during a movie outing with three friends ended those dreams: At about 9 p.m., the Ford Explorer in which the four teens were riding flipped over, and they were thrown from the vehicle. Hersch died.

They were not wearing seat belts, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The cause of the accident was under investigation.

Gerald Miller, 16, from Davie, was driving the SUV northbound on the interstate south of Pembroke Road. The SUV flipped over, coming to a rest on the interstate's east wall, FHP said. The teens were taken to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood.

According to FHP, Miller was in critical condition after the crash. Lauren Gorham, 18, of Hollywood, who was riding in the back seat with Hersch, was listed in critical condition. James A. Avello, 16, of Davie, suffered minor injuries.

Hersch was looking forward to starting her junior year at Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School in Hollywood, where she was an honor student, said her aunt, Colleen Sharon.

''I keep thinking she's going to bounce through the door,'' said Sharon in a phone interview from Hersch's home. ``There aren't enough words to tell how much I love her. The entire family has taken this as a blow. We're all pretty numb right now.''

As Sharon spoke, the sobs of Hersch's mother, Kathy Schaefer, could be heard.

''Her mom was her best friend,'' Sharon said. ``Most kids would avoid their parents when they got home from a night out. But Casey and her mom were so close. Casey would sit down and tell her everything about her night. She was an incredible little girl.''

Sharon said Hersch played volleyball, loved to read and was always there for her friends and family when they needed her. She volunteered at Broward Outreach Center, a homeless shelter in Hollywood.

''She was always looking to be someone's shoulder, someone's rock,'' Sharon said. ``I can't believe she's gone.''

The crash came less than a week after another girl, Peri Laguna, 14, was flung out the window of an SUV that rolled over. The Davie girl, who was not wearing a seat belt, died instantly in the Thursday crash.

The wake for Hersch will be at 6 tonight at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 415 NE 195th St., Miami Shores.

Miami Herald - Kevin Deutsch