Classmates and coaches of Kiely Vaca remember the San Jose teen killed in a plane crash over the weekend for her upbeat attitude and smile.
"Always smiling, laughing and joking around," said Richard Azure, who served as Vaca's basketball coach at Lincoln High School.
Vaca, a senior student, died in a plane crash Saturday near Hollister. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the small plane crash that killed both passengers-- the 18-year-old Vaca and 69-year-old John Dennis from Gilroy.
Friends interviewed on Monday believe Dennis was Vaca's grandfather.
"Whenever you were down, she'd pull you back up you know," classmate Nate Azure said. "She just makes everybody happy."
Vaca played on the girls varsity basketball team during her sophomore year and planned to return this season after taking a year off. The team plans to honor her by retiring her number 13.
