MONTICELLO - A 13-year-old girl was killed when the sport utility vehicle she was driving overturned Thursday afternoon in the parking lot of the Monticello Community Building.

Amy K. Landreth was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Piatt County Coroner Debbie Robbins.

Monticello Police Chief John D. Miller said Amy, an eighth-grader at Monticello Middle School, apparently was traveling at a high rate of speed. The vehicle hit the brick building with a tremendous impact.

"It was a terrific crash. It shook the building," said Winters, a librarian with the Allerton Public Library, one of the building's occupants.

Winters was in her office, at the opposite side of the building, when she felt the large, century-old building move.

State Street, just north of Livingston Street, was blocked off for several hours Friday, as police officers worked at the downtown scene to determine the cause of the accident.

The SUV, which was upside down, its rear end facing the northwest corner of the building, was a work vehicle of Amy's father, Miller said.

"The wreck was so severe," Miller said. "A state police reconstruction specialist is investigating the accident because the accident is so severe. The two police departments are continuing to investigate it. It may take up to a week to find out what happened."

Police did not say why Amy was driving the vehicle.

Middle school Principal Jeanne Handley said ministers and mental health counselors have made themselves available to help students who are grieving.

"I'm really proud of how the community has stepped up to provide services for everybody involved," Handley said.

Miller, who has been serving as police chief since 1995, said this is one of the most severe accidents he has seen here.

"This is the fourth fatal accident I've worked in Monticello in 14 years," Miller said. "This is a horrible tragedy for the community. My heart goes out for the family."

hfreeman@herald-review.com|421-6985