University mourns death of student athlete
By DAVE GOSSETT, For The Weirton Daily TimesArticle Photos
“But,” the Rev. Terence Henry, TOR, said, “we just know that God would want us to press on, to carry on and do the best we can under these tragic conditions.”
Henry said Tuesday was, “a very tough time for us this evening as we learned about the accident. The prayers of the entire university community are with Kelly Roggensack’s parents and sisters tonight.”
Henry’s comments came hours after he learned Roggensack was killed and six cross country teammates were injured when the Toyota Sequoia they were riding in swerved to avoid a tire on U.S. 22 near the West Virginia-Pennsylvania border and plunged over a wooded hillside.
Henry said he had talked to Roggensack’s parents Tuesday and, “we are now making plans for a memorial Mass for Kelly when all of our students return to the campus. She was a sophomore and returning student, and we want to give all of our students the chance to come together to grieve.”
New students are scheduled to arrive on campus Thursday with upperclassmen expected to return to school by Monday.
According to a news release issued Tuesday by the university, the 33-member cross country team was returning to Steubenville in several vehicles from a practice at Robinson Montour Trail, near Imperial, Pa. when the accident occurred.
Trooper Eric Fisher with the Pittsburgh detachment of the Pennsylvania State Police said today, “the accident remains under investigation at this point. We have experts coming in to assist the troopers in their investigation.”
Information provided by Washington County Coroner Tim Warco explained the vehicle left the roadway off of the left passing lane. After coming back onto the roadway, Warco stated, the vehicle rolled across the right lane, striking a guardrail and then went over a hillside off of the westbound lane.
A dispatcher at the Pittsburgh state police office said Rita Pedulla of Edmond, Okla., was driving the SUV at the time of the accident.
Pedulla, Michael Feuz of Mont Airy, Md.; Tanya Zengierski, of Madiera, Calif.; Lindy Ramer of Ohio; Katherine Eddy of Portland, Maine; and John Levri of Sarver, Pa.; were all injured in the crash.
Two of Roggensack’s teammates were flown to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Four others in the vehicle are being treated at Weirton Medical Center.
The state police dispatcher did not know which of the injured were taken to the Pittsburgh hospital.
Units also responding to the scene included Hanover Township and Burgettstown volunteer fire departments, Ambulance and Chair Service, Fort Cherry Ambulance, Weirton Area Ambulance and Rescue Squad, Hanover Township and Burgettstown police and the Brooke County Sheriff’s Department.
Roggensack, a political science and business major, had returned to campus last weekend for pre-season training with the Baron cross-country team.
She was a second year member of the athletic team.
“I was deeply saddened to learn of Kelly’s tragic death,” said Henry. “The entire university family mourns her loss and is praying for the repose of her soul and for the consolation of her family and friends.”
“She was highly thought of by everyone who knew her. The cross country team members had nothing but kind words for her. It is hard to measure how deep this loss is to all of us,” said Henry.
“From here, we mourn together as a university and we mourn together as the city of Steubenville,” said university Athletic Director Chris Ledyard.
The university’s Franciscan priests and student life staff are providing pastoral support and counseling services today and in the future to those who were injured and to their teammates and other students, according to a university spokesperson.
The Rev. Dominic Foster of Chapel Ministries led a prayer service late Tuesday in Christ the King Chapel for Roggensack and all involved in the accident.
University spokesman Tom Sofio said more than 350 people filled the chapel.
(Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com)
