Jessica Klinesteker died in a car accident on Sunday. We graduated with her.
Did anyone else hear about this?

I took Hannah to her voice lesson today and Duiven mentioned it. I didn't recognize the name but I looked her up in the yearbook and immediately recognized her.

I knew her. Not best friends obviously, or even friends but I knew her at least.

Goodness.




CANNON TOWNSHIP -- An 18-year-old Grand Rapids Community College student was killed Sunday when police said she ran a stop sign at Myers Lake Avenue and Nine Mile Road NE.

Kent County Sheriff's Department said Jessica Klinesteker, of Rockford, was driving west on Nine Mile Road just before 1 p.m. when she failed to stop at the sign.

The driver of a car traveling south on Myers Lake Avenue, Kerri Southwick, 35, of Rockford, could not avoid the collision, police said.

Both cars ended up in a ditch.

Klinesteker, a 2005 graduate of Rockford High School, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Southwick was not injured, but her mother, Mari Anne Parker, 57, was transported to Spectrum Butterworth Campus to be treated for neck pain.

Police blocked the road several hours during their investigation of the accident.

Kent County Sheriff's Deputy Keith Kazelskis said police don't know why Klinesteker drove through the intersection.

"There were no skid marks," Kazelskis said. "She never slowed."

Relatives told police she was on her way to a graduation party when she apparently missed her turn and continued through the intersection.

Klinesteker's family was too distraught to talk Sunday. An uncle who didn't give his name said, "We love her very much, and we miss her."

Rockford High School Assistant Principal Steve Lewis said, "The Rockford High School community is certainly feeling the loss. We've had numerous accidents over the years and it certainly doesn't get any easier."

Norma Kuzma, who lives near the intersection said the area used to be rural. Suburban sprawl, including a new subdivision nearby, has brought traffic -- and accidents.

Higher traffic and speeds make for a dangerous intersection, she said.

"It was just waiting to happen," Kuzma said.

Kuzma's grandson, Cody Kiatkowski, 10, said he had just gone out to play basketball Sunday afternoon when he heard the crash about 100 yards from the house.

"It was very loud. I ran inside and told my grandma to call 911," he said.

3 Survived | Choke on it