On Monday, March 4 at approximately 7:32am, the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 700 block of Valley Road in the Town of Caroline for a report of a two-car motor vehicle crash with serious injuries. Upon arrival deputies observed a GMC Sierra with heavy front end damage and a Ford Focus with severe damage. Deputies determined the Ford Focus had lost control on the snow-covered roadway and crossed into the path of the GMC truck.
The driver and sole occupant of the Ford Focus was identified as Kelly Anne Perkins, age 19 of Berkshire, NY. Perkins was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ithaca College newspaper reported Kelly was traveling to campus from her home in Berkshire. She was a freshman in the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance. Kelly Perkins was a graduate of Newark Valley High School and daughter of Ithaca College employees Enoch and Debbie Perkins.
An open letter from Ithaca College President Shirley M. Collado, read in part: “We will have an opportunity to come together as a campus community tomorrow (Wednesday) at 5:00 p.m. in Muller Chapel to be with one another as we process the enormity of this loss. As always, the chapel is open at any time for those who wish to gather for reflection and prayer.
“I am heartbroken to have to share this news with you today. I know that this loss is felt so deeply within our entire IC family, and I encourage all of us to lean on one another in this time of grief.”
Bangs Ambulance, Brooktondale Fire and Slaterville Fire Departments assisted at the scene. At this time there are no charges and the crash is still under investigation, according to Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office.