Emily Collins was an 18-year-old woman from Norwich, New York, just beginning her adult life as a first-year student at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva. Friends and family remembered her as a "great kid." She was part of an inseparable trio of friends from her hometown, along with Rachel Nargiso and Katie Almeter. The three had grown up together, and their bond was a powerful presence in their lives.
In November 2000, Emily and Rachel made the trip to visit Katie, a first-year student at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, for a weekend, continuing the close friendship that defined their youth.
The weekend took a tragic turn in the early morning hours of Saturday, November 11, 2000. At around 2 a.m., Emily, Rachel, and Katie were walking on the Colgate campus on a cold and rainy night. Seeking a ride up a steep hill, they flagged down a passing Jeep driven by Robert Koester, a 20-year-old Colgate junior. Koester, who had been drinking at a fraternity party and a downtown bar, stopped to pick them up. Already in the vehicle were Koester’s friend from his hometown, Kevin King, and two other Colgate students, Chris Rea and Elke Wagle. The three young women climbed inside. Less than a minute later, only about 150 feet up Oak Drive, Koester lost control of the vehicle on the slick road and crashed into a large oak tree.
The impact of the crash was devastating. Emily Collins, Rachel Nargiso, Katie Almeter, and Kevin King were all pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, Robert Koester, and passenger Chris Rea sustained only minor injuries and were treated and released from a local hospital. The third surviving passenger, Elke Wagle, suffered multiple fractures and was hospitalized. The four deaths sent a shockwave of grief through the tight-knit communities of Colgate University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and the victims' hometown of Norwich.
The New York State Police immediately began an investigation. It was quickly determined that the crash was alcohol-related. Tests revealed that the driver, Robert Koester, had a blood-alcohol content of 0.17, more than double the legal limit at the time. The Madison County District Attorney's office brought charges against him. Koester was ultimately charged with four counts of second-degree vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated. He was sentenced to serve between one and a third to four years in prison and was released after serving two and a half years.
In the years following the tragedy, the families and the community have worked to create a lasting legacy of awareness and remembrance. Emily's father, Robert Collins, said he thinks of his daughter every morning and every night. The families of the three girls met weekly after the crash to support each other through their shared, unimaginable grief. At Colgate, the crash prompted significant changes to campus safety policies, including the introduction of a campus shuttle service and a zero-tolerance drunk driving policy. A memorial garden, known as "Katie's Garden," was planted on campus, and a permanent memorial with photo-engraved plaques was installed at the base of the oak tree on Oak Drive.
Emily’s life and the tragic circumstances of her death have been remembered through several powerful initiatives. A traveling exhibit titled "Friends: One Day One Wrong Turn" was created, featuring personal items, photos, and interviews with the victims' families to educate college students about the consequences of drunk driving. A canvas bag belonging to Emily was among the artifacts displayed. Hobart and William Smith Colleges established the Emily Collins '04 and Rachel Nargiso '04 Memorial Scholarship in their memory. Emily’s sister, Kelly Collins-Colosi, became a school counselor and an advisor for Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), using her family’s painful story to educate young people. "It's not a happy story to tell," she has said, "but I want you to know that drinking and driving has real consequences."
