|
|
Vol. LXIII, No. 31
|
|
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
|
|
|
|
Vol. LXIII, No. 31
|
|
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
|
A single car accident early on the morning of August 1 resulted in the death of Kristen Anne (Kristey) King, a recent graduate of the Hun School of Princeton.
She was 19 years old.
Approximately 100 students, parents, faculty, and staff assembled on Monday at the Hun School to tell stories about her life and take comfort in one another’s company.
Police have charged Sean B. Patten, 20, of Hightstown with several motor vehicle offenses related to the crash including driving while intoxicated, underage operation of a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol, and careless driving.
While driving a 2006 Honda Civic northbound on Province Line Road at approximately 3:05 a.m., Mr. Patten lost control of the vehicle, skidded off the roadway, and struck a utility pole. He and two other passengers, Jason Chan, 19, of Paramus, and Michael J. Azzara, 19, of Princeton were injured but were able to exit the vehicle. Ms. King, who was sitting in the left rear passenger seat, had to be extricated.
Mr. Patten and Mr. Azzara were transported to Princeton Medical Center with arm and foot injuries, respectively, and have since been released. Mr. Chan, who sustained head injuries, and Ms. King were transported to Helene Fuld Medical Center in Trenton, where Ms. King was pronounced dead. Mr. Chan was released from the hospital on August 3.
“Our community is grieving. There is no greater tragedy than the loss of a child,” said Hun School Headmaster Jonathan Brougham. “Kristen King was truly a beloved student, known for her love of the arts and for her warmth of spirit.”
The youngest of six children, Ms. King attended the Hun School for two years, graduating on May 29, 2009. She planned to attend the University of San Francisco to study nursing.
Active in the Hun School community, Ms. King was involved in the Theater and Arts Program, including the Janus Players, a school theater group. She played major roles in Hun productions, including a recent performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific.
“She was breathtaking on stage,” said Hun School Theatre Director Aaron Bogad, “Her guileless honesty and unfiltered expressiveness were unique and inspiring. When Kristey walked into the theatre, new to the school and to our group of artists, who knew we were meeting a student who could help challenge our community’s preconceptions about theater and arts in general?”
Ms. King is survived by her mother and father, Barbara and William King III; paternal grandmother, Charlotte Ruth King; sisters Jessica, Laura, and Rebecca; brothers William IV and Stephen; Uncle and Aunt John and Eileen Laskas, William and Margaret Scholler, Connie and Steve Woods, Randy, and numerous additional family including: David Mansor, Christine Cully and many cousins.
Ms. King is preceded in death by maternal grandparents, William and Agnes Scholler and paternal grandfather, William King II.
Friends and family can pay their respects at the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home in Princeton, on Wednesday, August 5 from 6 to 9 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10 a.m., on Thursday, August 6 at St. Charles Borromeo in Skillman with a burial in Princeton Cemetery to follow. Additional details and addresses can be found on www.matherhodge.com.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Kristen-Anne King Foundation, in care of the Hun School of Princeton, 176 Edgerstoune Rd. Princeton, NJ 08540.
The family may be reached either via Hun School of Princeton at (609) 921-7600 or the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home.
Additionally, memories of Ms. King can be sent to the King family through InmemoryofKristen@hunschool.org. The Hun School will also make counseling support available to students and families.