An 18-year-old Santa Fe High School graduate died in a car crash Saturday in Albuquerque.

Lindsey Barela died at University Hospital, according to Amy Boule of the Office of the Medical Investigator.

"She was a really nice girl," said Patsy Tafoya, an English teacher at Santa Fe High who knew Barela for two years. "She was always encouraging her classmates to do well."

Tafoya said Barela decided she wanted to be a teacher and planned to start college this fall.

Barela was initially interested in a nursing career but had changed her mind after participating in a tutoring class. "She had decided that she liked working with kids," Tafoya said.

Barela was a passenger in a Chevy Cavalier that witnesses said was eastbound on Central Avenue, said John Walsh, Albuquerque police spokesman.

The car was weaving in and out of traffic, hit the median and then hit a planter on the south curb, Walsh said. The car rolled over and went airborne, Walsh said.

Both the driver, an unidentified male, and Barela were ejected from the car, while another unidentified female passenger was wearing her seat belt and remained in the car.

The woman in the car died at the scene, Walsh said, while the driver and Barela were taken to the hospital. The driver is still in critical condition there, he said.

Walsh said investigators have not determined whether alcohol was a factor in the crash.

Barela is survived by her father, Ronnie Barela, her mother, Jolene Lockhart, and her brother, Ryan Barela, according to an obituary.

Visitation and rosary are scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday at Santa María de La Paz Catholic Community. A funeral Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, also at Santa María de La Paz.

Contact John Sena at 986-3079 or jsena@sfnewmexican.com.