Seven years ago at Colgate University in Hamilton, NY, three students, Robert R. Koester, Kevin King and Christopher Rea left drunk from a fraternity party. In the car with them were three other undergraduate students, Katherine Almeter, Emily Collins and Rachel Nargiso. The lives of all six of the students changed dramatically that night when their car swerved on’ a slick road and crashed into two trees’ while on their way home.
Almeter, Collins, Nargiso and King were killed instantly, leaving driver Koester and passenger Rea injured.’ Koester, who had been drinking during the hours preceding the accident, was expelled and charged with criminally negligent homicide, four counts of second-degree manslaughter and DWI.’ ‘ This was the first fatal car accident in Colgate’s history — a tragedy that forced the university to begin a substance abuse program and reevaluate the threat of drunk driving.
The senseless deaths of these students had a far-reaching effect prompting the Louis Henry Morgan Institute of SUNYIT in coordination with the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation and Union College to educate college students and the general public on the dangers of DWI.’
Their efforts have yielded the ‘Friends’ exhibition, now being displayed in the SAC Gallery.’ The exhibit features a visual timeline of the lives of the students that preceded and followed the collision.’ ‘We say collision now, not accident, because an accident implies that no one is to blame,’ said James Pearsol, the managing curator of the SAC Gallery. The goal of this exhibit, according to its founders, is to educate students on the dangers and cost of drunk driving, an avoidable criminal gamble with huge consequences.’ ‘
‘ Stony Brook teams and many Long Island high schools have visited the exhibit in an effort to learn and prevent other such incidents of drunk driving. The response from these groups has been positive with the intended message being taken in by students and adults alike.’ Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy recently visited the exhibit, saying ‘two decades ago, no one would have thought of drunk driving as an important issue.’
The exhibit itself consists of pictures of the students who were killed, private possessions such as one of the girls’ prom dresses, students’ artwork, audio and visual recordings, photos of the aftermath including the mangled car and Koester on trial.’
The exhibit runs from Aug. 13 to Sept. 21, Tuesday through Friday, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.’ A ‘Friends’ Facebook page has been posted for those who would like more information or assistance in drunk driving prevention.