She’s been gone a year now, but the mail from colleges keeps coming.

Veronica Gantt would have spent the past summer with her parents narrowing her college search before her senior year in high school out in Las Vegas.

But Gantt died a year ago Saturday, on Nov. 8, 2007. She was 16. Far from home, far from her parents, she was struck on the side of Olentangy River Road. Her life ended at the start of a trip she couldn’t wait to take.

Gantt had just arrived in Columbus to attend the National Catholic Youth Conference. She, another teen and a chaperone walked from their hotel near Harley Drive to pick up some food at a nearby McDonald’s after arriving in town late.   Read more for comments from Victoria’s parents as well as an update on the still missing hit-and-run driver.