Kent State Student Dies in Weekend Car Crash

The community of is mourning the loss of yet another student today.

Katherine R. Iarussi, 20, of Ravenna, was killed in a weekend crash about 18 miles east of the Kent State campus. The crash happened on S.R. 5 in rural Paris Township just east of S.R. 225.

Iarussi was driving southwest on S.R. 5 in a Honda SUV when her car collided with a Jeep driven by Preston L. Collins, 29, of Diamond, just before 5 p.m. Sunday, according to the Ravenna post of the Ohio Highway Patrol.

Both drivers were killed in the crash. They both were taken to the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office. No other information was available from the highway patrol, and the crash is under investigation.

Iarussi was a sophomore attending classes primarily in the College of the Arts, according to Kent State.

Her friends are planning a candlelight vigil in her memory Saturday, Dec. 10, from 7 to 10 p.m. at the rock on the Kent State front campus.

Iarussi's friend, Bri Boettler worked with her as a cashier at the Ravenna Giant Eagle and said she was a wonderful co-worker.

"She was a sweet, caring girl with a great sense of humor," Boettler said. "Always in a good mood, always making people laugh."

For Kent State, Iarussi is the fourth student to die under abnormal circumstances this year.

Last month, 22-year-old graphic design student Martin Alvord died after near Towner's Woods. In October, Pennsylvania native James Barnes in his campus dorm room. And in March, Rachael Carlina "Carli" Woodruff was while driving home to Loveland, OH, on spring break.