Woman killed in Kirkwood crash identified

KIRKWOOD, Mo. – The woman who died in a crash in Kirkwood over the weekend has been identified as an assistant principal at a charter school in south St. Louis.

Editor’s note: The video above is from May 6, 2024.

The St. Louis County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that 45-year-old Sarah Howell was the woman who died in the accident.

Confluence Academy South City announced Howell’s death in a post posted on Facebook. She was an assistant principal at the school.

According to the school, she started as a physical education teacher at the school in 2009 before becoming assistant principal of the middle school in 2018.

“She was loved by all and leaves a legacy that will last a lifetime!” the school’s post said.

Police said Monday that a 45-year-old woman was driving south through the intersection of Geyer and Big Bend streets when a vehicle struck her car around 9 p.m. Saturday, police said in a statement with few details. The woman died at the scene of the accident.

Kirkwood Police Department officers found the victim as soon as they arrived on the scene, police said. The passengers and driver of the vehicle traveling westbound on Big Bend were not seriously injured.

Police did not disclose the circumstances or cause of this fatal accident, but said they were still under investigation.

“Upon completion of the investigation, the case will be presented to the St. Louis County District Attorney’s Office for consideration of possible charges,” the statement said.

Police did not provide any further information, citing ongoing investigations.

“Our deepest condolences go out to the victim’s family and friends,” the statement said.

Michael Carmody also expressed his condolences.

He is a member of the advocacy group Safer Streets for Kirkwood and believes this intersection is a problem.

“My first thought was how fast one of these cars was going. It seemed like one of the tops was cut off, it was horrible,” Carmody said. “We have been committed to Big Bend for five years.”

He points out the improvements he would like to see in this area.

Carmody said his biggest concern is speeding. The top speed is 35 miles per hour. However, through a study, he found that the average driver at this intersection drives 45 miles per hour.

Carmody said he looked at a study from John Hopkins that said narrower lanes could help reduce the risk of traffic-related collisions.

“These lanes are too wide. Drivers feel comfortable in wide lanes and exceed the speed limit,” he said.

St. Louis County is working on a project for this specific intersection, with construction scheduled to begin in 2025.

“We are trying to push the issue, go to the media and do everything we can to rouse everyone to get the issue resolved. That’s what we need,” Ruzicka said.

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