A mother and her 5-year-old daughter were killed in a head-on collision on the way to school Tuesday morning in Wilkes County, according to the North Carolina Highway Patrol.

The accident happened about 7:20 a.m. on Dragway Road between Ferguson and Wilkesboro. Troopers say Brittany Dancy was driving too fast for the rain when she hydroplaned, crossed the center line and slammed into another car head-on. Both Dancy and her daughter, Makayla Lynn Birch, were not wearing seatbelts.

Sarah Huffman, a nurse who was traveling in the opposite direction, was hit by Dancy head on. She got out of her car and started CPR on Makayla.

Susan Blackburn, the principal at Makyla's school Mount Pleasant Elementary, said the staff leaned on each other to get them through the day.

"We did not tell the students today. We felt it was best to keep their day as normal as possible. We did send home a school messenger phone call to parents to let them know what happened so they can discuss it with their children," said Blackburn.

"She was a sweet presence wherever she was. She will truly be missed," said Blackburn.

Students are out of school on Wednesday for Veteran's day.

Blackburn said counselors will be on hand Thursday when students return to school.