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Alexis Summers, The Death of a Cheerleader

By
Real Estate Agent with Your Town Realty

ALexis Summers was a young popular cheerleader and gymnast who was a senior at Knock High School.
Here is the article about her.

A teenage cheerleader was killed when she lost control her car and smashed into a tree, as she tried to type a text message.

Alexis Summers, 17, of Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, died when her Subaru Legacy went over an embankment and slid into a tree, as she drove towards home on Tuesday night.

The tragic crash came just eight hours after her state agreed to outlaw text messaging at the wheel.

 

Alexis SummersAlexis Summers

The 'caring and kind' teenager, described by her best friend as an 'all American girl', was on her way home from seeing her football player boyfriend, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reported.

Troopers found a cell phone with a partly typed message on the screen.

State police Lt. Eric Hermick refused to say who the text intended for, but said that police will first speak to that person.

The beautiful teen, known as Alex to her family, died when her car left the road, hit a large tree and spun, before colliding with the tree a second time.

Tragic: High school senior Alexis Summers, 17, of Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, lost control of her Subaru Legacy and hit a tree just a mile away from her home

Shocking crash: High school senior Alexis Summers, 17, of Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, lost control of her Subaru Legacy and hit a tree just a mile away from her home

The popular student, a senior at Knoch High School, may also have been driving above the 35 mph speed limit, police said.

She was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash shortly after 10pm.

Pam Poston, who lives next to the crash site and dialled 911, was first on the scene after feeling the impact of the crash.

She told the Pittsburgh Tribune Review: 'It shook the house.'

'The ambulance and firefighters were here in about two minutes, no more,' she said. 'They're just down the road.'

'I asked her to say something. I said, 'Come on, honey. Move your fingers.' She didn't.'then my neighbor Stan went around the car, looked inside and said, 'She's gone.' I cried,'

Just eight hours before the fatal crash Pennsylvania state Senate had passed a bill that will make texting while driving a crime. The law will probably come into effect in about three months.


There is more to the article but that is the main body of it.

Last night was Friday night football at Knock High School where Alexis should have been cheering on the sideline.  Her place in the lineup was left vacant with her pom-poms in her place. .  I graduated there in 1991.  My girlfriend who graduated with me there has a son that is a senior footballplayer/wrestler there.  It was the most emotional game I have ever seen.  At half time the cheerleaders form the other team (West Allegheny) came over and each one of those girls gave a flower and a hug to a Knoch High School cheerleader.
After the game everyone on both sides paid their respects by staying in their seat while the Knoch band played "Amazing Grace" and said a prayer for Alexis.  All the Knoch seniors were given a balloon at release after the prayers.

Alexis Summers
The most amazing part of the night was a single star shining over the stadium.  All the students and stadium fans were pointing at it during Amazing Grace.  It was Alexis with all her beauty shining brightly in Heaven watching the game from above. 

Alexis Summers
I will remember that game/night for the rest of my life

Vickie Nagy
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate - Palm Springs, CA
Vickie Jean the Palm Springs Condo Queen

Someone recently told me "I've ruined my life", and my response was that "You've made a mistake". It's a tremendous loss for the family and friends when a seemingly simple act could have such dire consequences.

Nov 05, 2011 09:22 AM
Delores Campbell
Keller Williams Realty - Chesterfield - Wildwood, MO
Your St. Louis Real Estate Resource

Oh, I've got the chills.  So sad for the family and friends. 

Nov 05, 2011 09:42 AM
Michael A. Caruso
Surterre Properties - Laguna Niguel, CA

I've got chills too. Such a tragedy. When will everyone learn, do not text and drive. Sending many prayers to her family.

 

-Michael

Nov 05, 2011 10:34 AM
Marge Piwowarski
Phoenix AZ Horse Property - Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix AZ Horse Property, LLC

Steve,

What a nice tribute to her too-short life.  Texting shouldn't be lethal but it can be in a moving vehicle. 

Nov 06, 2011 09:14 AM
Steve Warrene
Your Town Realty - Lower Burrell, PA
Pittsburgh Realtor North and East Pgh.

Vickie, I agree with you about a seemingly simple act could have such dire consequences.  It's a crushing loss to the family---the family lost a 2 year old son 9 years ago.  They are now childless.

Delores, It was a huge loss for the community.  She was very popular and very, very into Christianity.

Michael, The message of not texting and driving was just passed into law the day of the tragedy but this passing of a very popular girl made a HUGE impact on the community of not texting and driving. 

Marge, The government just passed the bill to ban texting and driving that day of the strategy.  The game was SO amazing.  I will NEVER forget that game and the people there... players and fans.

Nov 06, 2011 09:46 AM
Anonymous
Katie

Hi there. My name is Katie, and I was a friend of Alex. You know, we never thought it happen to us.  Our safety ed teacher told us about other school districts that were suffering losses like this one, but we always thought, "oh, that won't happen to us." She was so beautiful.  Her long hair, and her gymnastics gave her a beautiful tan body.  She had the brightest smile you could've ever seen.  Her life was devoted to God in a way that most of our lives weren't.  She was an angel on earth, and all of knoch believes it.  THank you for posting this and these pictures too. I know as well as anyone else does that she was not texting and driving. She was so against that and even took her friends phones from them when she saw them doing it in the car. It's an insult that she has such an negative connotation with this, and I hope that people that read this understand that.  God wanted perfection, and He got it on 11/1/11. I love you Alex <3

Nov 17, 2011 10:29 AM
#6
Steve Warrene
Your Town Realty - Lower Burrell, PA
Pittsburgh Realtor North and East Pgh.

Katie, I know what you mean by not thinking it would ever happen to us.  I loved that fact of her connection and devotion to GOD was so powerful.  I go to the games and KNOW that she is watching form above. 
Peace be with her in Heaven... and Peace be with you on earth Katie.  Thank you for reaching out.

Nov 18, 2011 01:56 AM
Connie Harvey
Pilkerton Realtors - Brentwood, TN
Realtor - Nashville TN Real Estate

Steve, this can never be said enough. Texting while driving is deadly. Kids think that nothing will happen to them and when something like this happens it's a wake-up call.

Nov 23, 2011 04:44 AM
Steve Warrene
Your Town Realty - Lower Burrell, PA
Pittsburgh Realtor North and East Pgh.

Connie, You are very right about that.  Our community is still feeling the effects it had towards us.

Nov 23, 2011 09:41 AM
Pacita Dimacali
Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA
Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Steve

It's bad enough that people are distracted talking on the phone...but texting is a whole new level.

What is it that makes people want to do this while driving? There's nothing so important that it can't wait until one is safely off the road.

How sad.

Nov 23, 2011 04:56 PM
Steve Warrene
Your Town Realty - Lower Burrell, PA
Pittsburgh Realtor North and East Pgh.

Pacita, Its very sad.  Alexis was excited to be able to cheer at Heinz Field when the Knoch High School team won their playoff games to get to the Championship.  This Saturday will be that day and it will be an exciting yet sad day.  I hope they do a tribute to Alexis Summers there. 
Texting is one of the best contact to contact systems we have since the phone but it has it's place of when and where to use it.  We all text while driving at times.  I do it but only at red lights, stop signs (if no one is behind me) or pull over.
Alexis Summers may be gone but will never be forgotten.  This Saturdays football game will be for her.

Nov 24, 2011 02:29 AM
Anonymous
Amber

I am very sorry for the town. Not only did they lose a daughter, a sister, and a friend, but the also lost someone who should have grown up to do something amanzing with her life.

Feb 16, 2012 01:06 AM
#12
Steve Warrene
Your Town Realty - Lower Burrell, PA
Pittsburgh Realtor North and East Pgh.

Amber, I agree, she would have be a true inspiration to the community with her life.  She was very much into GOD and was not afraid to show her love for HIM.  I highly respect that.

Feb 16, 2012 02:55 AM