GREENVILLE – Bertie County is mourning the loss of a young Merry Hill native who attended Lawrence Academy before graduating in 2005.

Karen Perry, 20, who was a nursing student and former student government president at Pitt Community College, was killed in a traffic accident here Wednesday night.

The crash occurred at the intersection of West 5th Street and Arlington Boulevard. Perry’s Chevrolet Cavalier collided with a Ford Explorer carrying two occupants.

Neither person in the Explorer was injured, but Perry died at the scene shortly after the accident at 7:28 p.m.

According to Cpl. Kip Gaskins with the Greenville Police Department, an investigation into the crash is being conducted and additional information will be provided at the time of its conclusion.

Perry was the daughter of Alton and Elaine Perry of Merry Hill.

She was in her third year as a nursing student with plans to become either a registered nurse or a family nurse practitioner.

Pitt Community College officials announced that a schoolwide memorial will be held at a later date after Perry’s parents have more time to grieve her tragic loss.