Penn State Student Dies in Crash on Pa. Turnpike

A Penn State student died Sunday after a one-vehicle crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Charlestown located in Chester County, according to the university.

A female student was returning home from canning along with six other students when the accident occurred just before 2 p.m.. The student was pronounced dead on the scene while the remaining students were taken to Paoli Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The university identified the student as Vitalya “Tally” Sepot, 19, of Branford, Conn.

A release issued by the Pennsylvania Turnpike said an overturned vehicle with injuries west of the Valley Forge interchange had all lanes blocked and a detour was in effect.

The students were members of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority and Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity returning from a trip to raise money for THON, a student-run philanthropy at Penn State. Sepot was majoring in graphic design.

“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.