KENT, Washington — A Kent teacher has died after being struck late last month by a driver who police said was impaired by drugs.
For a while, it appeared Stacy Ankerfelt would recover and maybe even return to her classroom at Scenic Hill Elementary School. She died while undergoing treatment at Harborview Medical Center a little more than a week before the new school year was to begin.
“The students will be communicated with prior to the start of school so that they have support systems in place, and the families will be communicated with as well,” Scenic Hill Principal Dani Pfeiffer said.
The 28-year-old Ankerfelt taught fifth grade.
She was severely injured on July 19 near her home in Auburn when a driver, who police have identified as Samuel Cruz, hit her as she stood in the street next to her car.
Cruz was arrested on charges he was driving while under the influence of a powerful prescription drug that he allegedly told police he was taking to combat an addiction to Oxycontin.
Ankerfelt, who celebrated her sixth wedding anniversary while hospitalized, had just taught her first year at Scenic Hill.
The school is honoring her by establishing an “A award,” given weekly to students who demonstrate the kind of spirit she inspired.
“It’s a way of helping kids not just deal with the tragedy and get through the difficulty, but to do what she would have wanted us to do, which was to keep teaching kids,” said Chris Loftis, spokesman for the Kent School District.
Ankerfelt’s family told KIRO 7 they’re making arrangements following her death and haven’t decided whether they want to speak publicly yet.
As for Cruz, a spokesman for the King County Prosecutor’s Office said charges against him will likely be modified, possibly to include vehicular homicide.
KIRO
