A tragic one-car accident at approximately 2 a.m. on Saturday, November 11 on Oak Drive on the ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ University campus resulted in the death of four young persons and the hospitalization of three others.
First-year ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ student Katherine Almeter of Norwich died in the accident, which also took the lives of Kevin King, Rachel Nargiso and Emily Collins, who were not ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ students.
Injured in the accident were ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ students Robert Koester ’02 and Elke Wagle ’04, and Chris Rea, who is not a ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ student. Both Koester and Rea were treated and released from the hospital. Wagle, who suffered multiple fractures, is being cared for in a hospital in Albany.
New York State Police are conducting the investigation. The Madison County District Attorney has said the accident is alcohol related. The University has initiated its own investigation of circumstances leading to the accident.
Throughout this period of mourning, student affairs personnel, including deans, professional counselors, and members of the residential life staff, are providing support for the campus community. At an 11:30 a.m. campus-wide gathering in Memorial Chapel on Saturday, students learned the extent of the tragedy from Dean of the College Michael Cappeto, and were counseled by President Charles Karelis, Catholic Chaplain John Donovan, and Director of Counseling Mark Thompson. Counseling continued throughout the weekend .
At a campus gathering in Memorial Chapel on Monday, November 13, ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ students, faculty and staff came together to reflect as a community on the tragedy. Funeral arrangements for Katie Almeter are scheduled Tuesday at St. Paul’s Church in Norwich.Public calling hours are scheduled from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., and the funeral will begin at 1:00. The bells of the ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Chapel will toll at 1:00 Tuesday, and the campus will observe a moment of silence.
Plans for an on- campus memorial service are being finalized.