Virginia Tech Student Dies In Crash

A Virginia Tech student died following a car accident that involved four other Virginia Tech students Saturday evening.

Nicole Lee, 18, of Derwood, Md., died after the vehicle she was riding in collided with a tree along U.S. 219 in Greenbrier County, W.Va.  Other victims that were involved in the crash were Virginia Tech students Gaurav Raja, Harry Rosenbaum, Trevor Helderman, and Mike Hochkeppel.

According to The Roanoke Times, Helderman, 18, of Midlothian, was driving when his 1999 Nissan Pathfinder ran off the road and hit a tree.

The students were returning from a day skiing trip at the Snowshoe Mountain ski resort in Snowshoe, W.Va.

According to W.Va. State Police Trooper R.R. Richards, all five victims in the crash were taken to Greenbrier Valley Medical Center in W.Va where Lee, Helderman, and Hochkeppel were later transferred to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke where Lee was pronounced dead.  Hochkeppel and Helderman were later taken to the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville.

Hochkeppel was listed in fair condition while Helderman was listed in good condition.  Rosenbaum was listed in fair condition at Greenbrier Valley Medical Center.  Raja’s condition could not be released because of his age.

Richards said Rosenbaum and Raja were expected to be released late Monday or Tuesday. 

According to Virginia Tech News, a Mass of Christian Burial for Nicole Lee will be offered at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Derwood Md. on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 12 p.m. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Nicole Michelle Lee Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 5598, Derwood, Md., 20855.