Created: 6/8/2009 4:18:13 PM 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- A debris field of concrete chunks, rebar and fractured auto parts on East Road shows the enormity of the impact high above that claimed the life of a popular local couple.
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, 39-year old Susan Carter and her 42-year old husband, Clinton, known to friends as Chuck, were killed after their vehicle lost control on the first turn of the rain-soaked Hart Expressway around 2:30 Sunday morning.
Police say the Carter's vehicle careened off the left wall, then smashed head-on into the right concrete guardrail before flipping several times.
Clinton Carter was seatbelted into the driver's seat and was killed in the crash. Police say his wife, Susan, was not wearing her belt. She was rushed to the hospital but died several hours after the crash.
In the Harbor Oaks neighborhood of St. Nicholas, friends and neighbors were stunned at the news.
"We're all just devastated. It's so unreal yet. It hasn't fully sunk in yet. It's not even just Harbor Oaks. It's the whole Saint Nicholas area," said Kathy Stetson.
Stetson shares the grief of dozens of friends and neighbors of the Carters.
"They were fun loving. Great parents," said Stetson, whose 9-year old daughter, Faith, is close friends with the Carter's children.
"In this car accident we're all sad about it but she (Susan Carter) was really looking forward to spending time with her kids this summer," said 9-year old Faith.
Instead, the Carter's children, 11-year old Charlie and 9-year old Caroline, are with close family friends.
"The (Carter) kids right now are doing amazingly well. They've got a good support system and a lot of loving friends and family," said Stetson.
Chuck and Susan Carter both worked for the Duval County School system. He worked on and off on groundskeeping crews. She was the guidance counselor at Susie Tolbert Elementary School.
As traffic homicide investigators continue to look into the cause of Sundays crash, those with a pain in their hearts reflect on the importance of this fragile thing called life.
"Just to grasp each moment!" said Kathy Stetson.
"We take it so for granted that we're going to get up in our daily routine. You just need to hold on to your kids and those that you love and just embrace it! Embrace it, because we're only here for a short time!"
