Campus sensory garden to be built in honor of UNCC student killed in party bus fall

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The family of Polly Rogers, a University of North Carolina at Charlotte student who died last year after falling out of a moving party bus, is partnering with her university to keep her spirit alive in a very special place.

“She was an irresistible life force,” said Polly’s dad, Tim Rogers.

It's been nearly a year since his 20-year-old daughter died in a tragic way.

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Like most doting dads, Rogers sings his daughter's praises.

“I adore her. I adore her still,” he said.

Polly and other UNCC students were on a party bus heading uptown when somehow she fell out of a window and was hit by two cars.

[IMAGES: Polly Rogers, UNCC student killed after falling from party bus]

Her family, sorority and the UNCC community were all devastated, but her father told Channel 9 they're determined to turn their pain into something positive.

Rogers walked Eyewitness News anchor Allison Latos through the university’s botanical gardens to the spot that will become the Polly Rogers Sensory Garden.

“She's with me. There will be times when I talk about how Polly's in the air,” said Rogers.

The spot is going to be transformed into a space specifically for those with special needs in honor of Polly's desire to become a special education teacher.

“The smell, the essence of beautiful flowers, it will be friendly to a person who does not have good sight,” Rogers said. “You're breathing in a place that is designed for inclusion, diversity.”

University fundraising already surpassed the $15,000 goal to build the sensory garden, but the family hopes donors will continue to give to maintain the grounds.

“This is a different way of giving Polly to the world, so they can come to the garden an encounter her there,” said Rogers.

The garden in Polly's name is set to open next spring, when she would have been graduating.

Police were never able to identify the two drivers who hit Polly, so that part of the investigation ended with no answers, but the party bus owner, Victor Rabb, was charged with operating the bus without insurance and was fined.

More information about the Polly Rogers Sensory Garden and how to get involved here.

Cox Media Group