SU student killed in hit-and-run in Herkimer County Saturday
A Syracuse University student was killed Saturday in a hit-and-run on the New York State Thruway in Herkimer County around 4:30 a.m., said state police investigator Frank Spatto.
Jamie Klemczak, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, had exited her car and was attempting to walk across the westbound lane when she was struck, Spatto said. She appeared to have died instantly, he said.
Klemczak’s car had run off the road and into the median while she was traveling eastbound near Herkimer County. Police received a call that a car had run into the road and responded within five minutes, Spatto said.
Spatto said police are unsure why Klemczak got out of her car, but think she may have been going to get help for her car.
‘The best we can figure is she had just gone by the Herkimer exit which was probably two miles west from where she was,’ Spatto said. ‘She must have gotten out thinking she could walk back for help.’
Investigators believe Klemczak was hit by a silver Toyota Camry, anywhere from a 2007 to 2009 model, Spatto said, due to debris recovered at the scene.
The Thruway was closed from 4:30 to 10 a.m. while the scene was investigated by an accident reconstruction team, he said.
The Office of Student Affairs at SU is reaching out to friends and family of Klemczak, said Thomas Wolfe, senior vice president and dean of Student Affairs. The Counseling Center and Hendricks Chapel are also providing counseling.
‘Obviously this is just a sad day for the university when somebody like this is lost to us,’ Wolfe said.
The university will plan a memorial service for Klemczak, although it is still too early to know exact details of the service, Wolfe said. SU will allow Klemczak’s family to plan their own funeral or memorial service before planning a university memorial service, he said.
Police are encouraging anyone who may have information regarding the involved vehicle to call Spatto at 315-886-7111.
– Asst. News Editor Rebecca Kheel contributed reporting to this article.
Published on February 20, 2010 at 12:00 pm
