Impact

Services set for student killed in auto accident on THON canning trip

The four Penn State students injured in an auto accident Dec. 2 while on a trip to solicit donations for THON, are recovering from injuries sustained in that accident, while funeral services for the one student killed are planned for Monday, Dec. 5, and Tuesday, Dec. 6, with a mass on Wednesday, Dec. 7.

Courtney O’Bryan, the 18-year-old freshman from Huntington, N.Y., and a member of the Sigma Delta Tau sorority, died following an accident in which she was reportedly thrown from the vehicle when the car hit a patch of “black ice” and flipped over on a highway near Bradford, Pa. (http://live.psu.edu/story/56657). The students were part of sorority and fraternity group heading to Buffalo, N.Y., as part of a second weekend of “canning” for donations for THON.

Services and visitation for Courtney O’Bryan will be held Monday and Tuesday from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at M.A. Connell Funeral Home, 934 New York Ave., Huntington Station, N.Y. The mass and funeral will take place on Wednesday at 9:45 am. at St. Patrick’s Church at the same location. For more information, see http://maconnellfuneralhome.com/online-obituary/84722

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Four Diamonds Fund at Hershey Medical Center. www.pennstatehershey.org/web/four diamonds/home in O'Bryan's memory.

The University's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) unit is holding counseling sessions for various groups across campus. Students who are affected by this accident are urged to contact CAPS or attend the sessions. There will be a session held at 8 p.m. today in 106 Fisher for students and friends from Brumbaugh Hall and any other friends who feel the need to talk about the situation. Another counseling session is planned for members of the THON community, while a third session is being offered to the fraternity and sorority groups affiliated with the students involved in the accident. These counseling sessions are for students only and the intended groups have been notified of time and location. No media should be present.

In addition, the CANHELP crisis line at 800-643-5432 also is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 

Last Updated December 8, 2011