Rachel Nargiso, an 18-year-old woman with a bright future, was known for her close and cherished friendships. She grew up in Norwich, New York, where she formed an inseparable bond with her friends Emily Collins and Katie Almeter. After graduating from Norwich High School in 2000, Rachel began her first year at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York, full of promise and excitement for the years ahead.
Her life, however, was tragically cut short in a devastating incident that also claimed the lives of her two best friends and another young man.
On the weekend of November 11, 2000, Rachel and Emily were visiting their friend Katie, a first-year student at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York. In the early morning hours, as a cold rain began to fall, the three young women were walking on the campus and flagged down a passing Jeep for a ride up a hill. The driver was Robert Koester, a Colgate junior, who had been drinking at a fraternity party and a local bar. Already in the vehicle were Koester's hometown friend, Kevin King, and two other Colgate students, Chris Rea and Elke Wagle.
Shortly after the three friends climbed into the crowded vehicle, Koester sped down Oak Drive. Less than a minute later and only about a quarter-mile from where he had picked them up, he lost control of the Jeep on the slick road. The vehicle careened off the pavement and slammed into a large oak tree. The impact was catastrophic. Rachel Nargiso, Emily Collins, Katie Almeter, and Kevin King were all pronounced dead at the scene. The two other passengers, Chris Rea and Elke Wagle, survived with injuries, as did the driver, Robert Koester, who sustained only minor injuries.
The investigation into the crash was handled by the New York State Police. It was quickly determined that alcohol was a major factor. Tests revealed that Robert Koester had a blood-alcohol content of.17, more than twice the legal limit at the time. He was arrested and charged with four counts of second-degree vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated. The tragic event sent shockwaves through the Colgate University campus and the home communities of all the victims.
Robert Koester was ultimately sentenced to one and a third to four years in prison for his role in the fatal crash. He served two and a half years of his sentence. The leniency of the sentence was a source of pain and bewilderment for the families of the victims, who felt it did not equate to the magnitude of their loss. In a prison interview, Koester took responsibility for his actions, expressing remorse for the lives that were lost because of his decision to drive drunk.
The profound loss of Rachel, Emily, Katie, and Kevin has been commemorated in numerous ways, intended to both honor their memories and prevent similar tragedies. At Hobart and William Smith Colleges, the Emily Collins '04 and Rachel Nargiso '04 Memorial Scholarship was established. On the Colgate University campus, a permanent memorial was placed at the site of the crash on Oak Drive, and a garden named "Katie's Garden" was planted near a residence hall. A powerful traveling exhibit titled "Friends" was also created, featuring personal belongings and photographs of the four victims to educate college students about the devastating consequences of drunk driving.
The case is considered closed, as the person responsible was held legally accountable. However, for the families and friends of Rachel Nargiso, the impact of that night in November 2000 is everlasting. The tragedy prompted significant changes at Colgate University, including the implementation of a campus cruiser service for safe transportation and a zero-tolerance policy for drunk driving, legacies born from a devastating and preventable loss.
