Park City teen dies in Kentucky hit-and-run

Students, teachers and administrators at Park City High School Monday were mourning the loss of one of their own.

"We are just heartbroken," said principal Hilary Hays. "She was so wonderful. We will miss her."

Connie Blount, 18, who was enrolled at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, was crossing a street near the college about 2:30 a.m. Sunday when she was hit by a silver or light-colored pickup truck and killed. The driver fled after the accident.

Blount was in a crosswalk at a traffic signal, said Lexington police officer Scott Lynch. But there was no evidence as of Monday that the vehicle that hit Blount ran a red light, he said. There was also no evidence the driver was speeding on the 35 mph road, he said. It was raining in Lexington that night.

"Just for whatever reason, the driver didn't see her," he said.

Blount was crossing the street with another man, Lynch said. That man was not injured. Why the driver fled the scene was unknown Monday.

In Utah, news of Blount's death spread quickly among her friends. Hays said Blount, who graduated early from Park City High School, was a student whom everybody knew.

"She would talk to everybody. She just wanted to know everybody. If they weren't her teacher it wasn't a limitation for her. Everyone just knew Connie," Hays said.

Hays remembered Blount as a smart and talented student. She said Blount returned to the high school in December to visit.

"She was one of those kids who will always come back and always be in our hearts," she said.

The assistant principal at the school, who was new last year and only knew Blount for a half-year because of her early graduation, began crying when he heard the news of her death.

"That tells you the impact this girl had," Hays said.

Hays said Blount was always smiling. On Monday, when she had to break the news to the other teachers, Hays said she wanted to wear a shirt with a big flower on it in remembrance of Blount.

"Some big, bubbly happy thing that is so about spring and joy, like her," she said.

Students and teachers were invited Monday to talk to counselors, mostly exchanging memories and fun moments with Blount.

"We try to bring happiness into this. Connie would expect this. But it's hard to celebrate when you just hurt," Hays said.

Although she was not on a sports team or in a club, Blount attended every school event.

At home, she was very close to the equestrian community and owned two horses of her own, Hays said. Part of the reason she chose the University of Kentucky was because of its equestrian facilities.

The news of Blount's death came on the same day her older sister gave birth.

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E-mail: preavy@desnews.com