Published: June 03, 2009 11:59 pm      

Teen killed in ATV crash

ASHVILLE — An outgoing high school senior died in a freak ATV accident Tuesday evening just days before she was to graduate from Glendale Junior/Senior High School.

Katie Flick, 18, was killed off Route 53 near Ashville, according to Blair County Coroner Patty Ross.

Flick was riding the ATV with her boyfriend on private property in Dean Township when they lost their balance and the vehicle fell on Flick. The unnamed boyfriend – who was not injured – rushed Flick home on the ATV. She died a short time later at the Altoona Regional Trauma Center.

The woman sustained blunt-force injury, Ross said.

Ross said Wednesday that no drugs, alcohol or horseplay were involved in the crash, which happened at about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Flick lived with her mother, Karen Flick, in Flinton. Her father is Richard Flick of Utahville.

The death left the Glendale School District in shock.

“For me and the entire district, we offer our sincere condolences to Katie’s family,” said high school Principal Gary Walstrom.

A message was read to students arriving during the first period: “Glendale High School is sad to report that senior Katie Flick was tragically killed in an ATV accident last night.”

Walstrom said four counselors set up a crisis center in the school library to talk to students in need.

“Some of the students actually went home,” he said.

While graduation exercises will go on as planned, Walstrom said some alterations are being discussed.

This was at least the second major accident to involve Glendale High School students this year.

In March, four Clearfield County teens were injured – one severely – when their Ford Explorer went out of control and rolled twice in northern Cambria County as they were en route to the school. A 13-year-old girl, who was flown to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh fighting for her life, survived.

The principal recalled Flick fondly.

“She was a very good student, very friendly,” Walstrom said.

Flick studied health care at the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center and planned to go into the nursing field. She was a member of the National Technical Honor Society.

“Our last memory, let me tell you a little story,” Walstrom said Wednesday.

“She was going down the hall yesterday with this vegetable platter for a party at the vo-tech, and me and the assistant principal were there,” he recalled. “I said, ‘I’m going to have to confiscate this.’ A minute later, she held the platter out of the window of the school bus.

“Not many students go out of their way to be friends to the principal and the assistant principal. She was one of those,” Walstrom said.

Glendale High will now graduate only 63 on Friday.