Kathryn June (Kathy) Kelley, BHS 1966

Kathryn June (Kathy) Kelley, BHS 1966

Burbank Review, Wednesday, April 1, 1964

GIRL STUDENTS INJURED WHILE CROSSING STREET, AUTO HITS STUDENTS IN CROSSWALK

Two Burbank High School students were injured, one of them critically, when they were struck Tuesday afternoon by an automobile at Glenoaks Boulevard and Grinnell Drive, shortly after leaving school. The motorist, Harry Miller, 34, of Saugus, was charged with felony drunk driving, according to Burbank Police Traffic Lt. Alan Ostroff.

Kathy Kelley, 15, of 2848 N. Keystone St., and Mary Wood, 15, of 2722 N. Brighton St., were crossing Glenoaks Boulevard when they were struck by the car. The Kelley girl was given emergency treatment at Burbank Community Hospital and then taken to the Glendale Sanitarium with a compound fracture of the right leg and numerous abrasions and contusions. Doctors there described her condition as “critical” today.

Miss Wood was taken to Burbank Community Hospital suffering from a laceration of the forehead, contusions and abrasions of the face. She was released after treatment.

The girls told police they were walking east across Glenoaks Boulevard in the pedestrian crosswalk at the time of the accident. They said that they reached the center of the street before they realized that Miller’s car was coming too fast to stop before hitting them. They added that they tried to run across the street but were unable to avoid being hit.

Miller reportedly told police he was northbound on Glenoaks Boulevard, approaching the intersection of Grinnell Drive, when he observed the two girls running in front of him. The accident was one of seven which occurred within a two-hour period from about 3 to 5 p.m. as rain pelted the streets

Burbank Daily Review, Thursday, April 2, 1964

DEATH SNUFFS OUT A BRIGHT LIGHT – KATHY STRUCK DOWN NEAR SCHOOL

Young and gay and full of life. At the age of 15, Kathy Kelley of 2848 N. Keystone St. had so much to live for. She was an honor student, popular with her classmates and admired by her teachers. Now she is dead, Victim of a tragic automobile accident.

At 3:25 Tuesday afternoon, Kathy left Burbank High. Accompanying her was classmate Mary Wood, 15, of 2722 N. Brighton St. At 3:27 they started across Glenoaks Blvd. walking in the crosswalk at Grinnell Drive. Kathy waved to her mother, her laughter radiating sunshine on a rainy afternoon. Observing the girls in the crosswalk, motorists told police of slowing to a stop in wait for the girls. As the children neared the center of the street, they saw an approaching car and began to run.

Then it happened. It was over in an instant. Kathy lay in the street, critically injured. Her mother ran to her and clutched her daughter to her side. She removed her coat and placed it over Kathy. From somewhere bystanders brought blankets. There they waited for an ambulance in the drizzling rain of a cloudy, dark afternoon – made darker for those present by the tragedy that had unfolded before their eyes.

Kathy and her companion were taken to Burbank Community Hospital. There Kathy was to receive emergency care before being transferred to the Glendale Sanitarium where she died Wednesday afternoon, a little less than 24 hours after the accident. Mary was more fortunate. A step ahead of Kathy, she sustained contusions and abrasions and was released from the hospital after treatment.

Kathy’s teachers had described her as an unusually capable girl, with high standards and a desire to do more than was expected of her. Kathy’s grades bore out the opinions of her teachers. She was a member of the California Scholarship Federation, for which include a far above ordinary scholastic average. 

Through in her first year at Burbank High School, she had already become active as a member of the Foreign Exchange Club and the school a cappella choir. Her activities didn’t stop at school either. She was an active participant in the Presbyterian Church youth organization and was supervisor of a Junior Achievement group.

The motorist, Harry Miller, 34, of Saugus, reportedly told police he observed the girls when they ran in front of him. Traffic investigator Jack Bell said he has been charged with felony manslaughter. Kathy will be buried in the same dress she wore to her junior high school graduation.

Burbank Daily Review, April 3, 1964

MEMORIAL TO KATHY KELLEY PLANNED

Contributions for a memorial college scholarship fund are being accepted in lieu of flowers for, Miss Kathy Kelley, a Burbank High School student who died Wednesday. Ralph Kelley, father of the student, said Mrs. Thomas Murphy, of 3037 N. Lamer St., will set as collector of the fund. Later, a committee will be set up with school people for distribution to a deserving student or students, possibly for study in the fields of Spanish or music.

Funeral services for Miss Kelley, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Little Church of the Flowers, Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale. She is survived by her father and mother, Ralph and Lillie Kelley; brother, Tom; grandparents, Dr. R.H. Kelley, Mr. and Mrs. T.A. Sutton and Mrs. Reba C. Kelley.