School official: Teen killed in Harwinton crash called ‘beloved member’ of community

“The Prenoveau family are active members of our school community. Our sincerest thoughts, prayers and support are with the Prevoneau family today and in the days to come.” Harwinton Superintendent Howard Thiery

HARWINTON — The 14-yearold killed in a crash Sunday was a sophomore at Lewis Mills High School described as a “beloved member” of the community, school officials said.

Kailey Prenoveau, 14, was identified as the victim in the crash by state police. She was an incoming sophomore at Lewis S. Mills High School in Burlington, where she was an honors student and member of the crew and swim teams, according to a statement her family posted on Facebook.

State police said no further information was currently available about the crash. The Oxford driver had attempted to avoid crashing into a vehicle on the southbound lane of Hill Road near its intersection with Hayden Road, according to state police.

Kailey had been standing offroad talking to a family member inside the vehicle, police said.

Superintendent Howard Thiery addressed the loss in a letter to the Region 10 district earlier this week.

“Kailey was a beloved member of our community, who attended Harwinton Consolidated School, HarBur Middle School and Lewis S. Mills High School,” Thiery wrote. “Her siblings currently attend HBMS and LSM. The Prenoveau family are active members

of our school community. Our sincerest thoughts, prayers and support are with the Prevoneau family today and in the days to come.”

Following Kailey’s death, school officials made counselors available for students, extending the support through the first day of school on Wednesday.

Earlier this month, another 14-yearold girl died after a crash in Haddam. Gianna Vincelett was riding a bike when she was struck by a driver on Route 81. The driver fled and an autopsy showed that Vincelett, who police found on the side of the road with “critical” injuries and transported to a hospital, died of blunt force trauma to the head and neck.

Gianna was a student at HaddamKillingworth Middle School. A person of interest has been identified in an ongoing investigation, state police said.