Penn State Student From Branford Killed in Crash

A Penn State student from Branford died in a one-vehicle crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike on Sunday, according to the university.

The crash involved seven students who were returning to State College, Pa. after a canning trip to raise money for THON, a student-run philanthropy at the university.

School officials identified the female student as 19-year-old sophomore Vitalya “Tally” Sepot. Sepot was among seven students returning from the trip when the crash occurred just before 2 p.m. on the turnpike in Charlestown Township located in Chester County, Pa.

Officials said Sepot, who was a passenger in the crash was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sepot, who was majoring in graphic design, was part of a group of students from the Alpha Chi Omega sorority and the Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) fraternity who were returning from the canning trip. The remaining six students involved in the accident were transported to Paoli Hospital in Paoli, Pa. with non-life threatening injuries.

“The Penn State community and all who know the good work done through student involvement in THON are deeply saddened by this tragedy,” Damon Sims, Vice President for student affairs said in a statement. “Our hopes are with the students injured, whose release from the hospital we are eager to see, but our hearts are with Tally’s family and friends, whose terrible loss we mourn.”

The university identified the other students involved in the accident as:

• Victoria Barrett, 18, from Gibsonia, Pennsylvania
• Sarah Bixby, 18, from Flemington, New Jersey
• Claire Fountas, 19, from Barrington, Illinois
• Matthew Hrynkow, 20, from Annandale, Virginia
• Brooke Kalodner, 18, from Voorhees, New Jersey
• Max Titlebaum, 20, from Merion Station, Pennsylvania

Support will be available to students affected by the incident.

“We are terribly saddened by this accident and our hearts are with the friends and family of Tally as well as other students who were involved in the accident,” Katie Mailey, THON 2016 Executive Director said in a statement. “The loss of one of our volunteers and the injury of others is a tragedy and we know this will be felt throughout our community. No words can express our sorrow when learning of this accident and of Tally’s passing. We will do all that we can to honor her memory and dedication to THON. We ask that everyone respect the privacy of individuals directly involved. This is a difficult time for many.”

The crash is under investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police.