This story comprises articles published by the Valley News on Sept. 16, by Jordan Cuddemi, and on Sept. 18.
WEATHERSFIELD — Police say the motorist who hit a 22-year-old South Royalton School graduate on Interstate 91 in Weathersfield after he was ejected from his vehicle early Sunday morning has come forward.
Patricia Whitcomb, 65, of Charlestown, went to the Vermont State Police barracks in Westminster on Monday and said “she believed” she may have hit Keanan Thompson, who lost control of his Jeep Wrangler and crashed, causing him to be thrown from the vehicle and land in the roadway, according to a news release from state police.
Whitcomb didn’t stop; Thompson died on scene.
Thompson was a senior in the Corps of Cadets at Norwich University, a member of the Vermont National Guard and had plans to commission into the Army next year, his family said on Monday.
Police confirmed that Whitcomb’s car, a gray 2004 Honda Civic with New Hampshire registration, which had front-end and undercarriage damage, was the vehicle involved, according to the release.
“The matter remains under investigation, and troopers are consulting with the Windsor County State’s Attorney’s Office regarding any possible charges that may arise from the incident,” police said in the release.
A question that remains is whether Thompson died from injuries he sustained from being ejected or from being run over.
Windsor County State’s Attorney David Cahill said Wednesday that the Vermont State Police investigation materials were en route to his office for him to review.
Thompson’s mother, Melissa Thompson, said her son had been hanging out with friends following his shift on Antique Hill at the Tunbridge World’s Fair on Saturday and was likely headed to her house in Perkinsville at the time of the crash. He wasn’t working with the corps, but instead spent the day churning ice cream with others, something he had done for years.
“He was respected by his peers, loved by everybody,” Thompson said Monday. “He didn’t offend anyone. He was quiet and he was unassuming. He had a wonderful heart and he was very giving.”
Keanan Thompson was engaged to be married to Madison Eline, a fellow cadet at Norwich University.
“He was a really amazing leader and everyone looked to him for advice, even I did,” Eline said. “He was always looking out for everybody.”
In addition to becoming an infantry officer, Thompson had hoped to work in law enforcement as a state trooper or a game warden, Eline said.
Thompson, a 2015 South Royalton High graduate, was an accomplished three-sport athlete who loved to be outdoors. He also was a wonderful cook, his mother said.
He enjoyed fishing and he took hunting seriously; No part of the animal went to waste. When he was forced to kill a coyote, he and Eline banded together and paid to get the pelt preserved.
“That’s just who he was,” she said.
The Thompson family has set up a GoFundMe page to help with his funeral expenses; the fundraiser nearly doubled its $7,000 goal in 20 hours.
Thompson’s death marks the second tragedy for the family this summer. Thompson’s only brother, Christian Thompson, died an accidental death on July 17, his mother said. He was 26 years old.
On Tuesday night at 10 p.m., the Norwich University Corps of Cadets held an Echo Taps ceremony, which is “meant to emulate a military memorial service,” according to a post on the university’s Facebook page.
Thompson, who was a dean’s list student, was majoring in criminal justice.
“The Norwich family’s thoughts and prayers are with Keanan’s family, friends and community,” the university wrote.
Police are asking anyone with information about the crash to call them at 802-722-4600.
