Student with ‘infectious’ personality killed by Amtrak train in Kannapolis

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — A 10th-grade student was killed Friday morning in Kannapolis after being hit by a train.

City officials said two A.L. Brown High School students crossed the railroad tracks near South Main Street around 7:30 a.m. They said the pair was on their way to school.

According to a release from the city, one of the students got away from the tracks in time, but the other student was hit and killed. That student was later identified as Kolby Smith.

A city spokesperson said the students were crossing the tracks “at a non-designated crossing area.”

“We are deeply saddened by the loss to our school community and will make every effort to provide needed support to our students and families,” Kannapolis City Schools said in a statement to Channel 9 Friday afternoon. “A.L. Brown has a Crisis Intervention Team made up of school counselors, psychologists, social workers, and intervention specialists trained to help with the needs of students, parents, and school personnel at difficult times such as this. We are unaware of any memorials or services planned at this time.”

Students and staff at A.L. Brown High are finding ways to make sure Smith is remembered.

“I had a kid say to me today ‘he would just always walk with me to class and make me laugh before I went into class,’ so definitely someone who would put his arm around anybody,” said Principal Sarah Newell, Ph.D.

Now, students at A.L. Brown High are putting their arms around each other as they remember their classmate and friend.

“They are thinking of positive ways to make sure everyone knows how special Kolby was,” Newell said.

On Monday, dozens of students walked from the school to the tracks that run along South Main Street. They gathered together for a private memorial and many held blue balloons.

“His personality is just infectious, he’s always happy, smile on his face,” Newell said.

“I don’t know that he met a stranger,” Newell added. “If someone wanted to have a friend in Kolby, they found a friend in Kolby. And just like I said, just a smile that would light up a room.”

She went on to describe him further, saying Smith was a “goofball.”

“He is in theater, and one of the pictures the kids showed this morning was him dressed up in all different outfits and being a goofball, but taking theater seriously,” Newell said. “He wanted to be good at what he was doing.”

Newell told me they are working on a memorial board inside the school. Many of Smith’s friends wrote his name on a skateboard to give to his family and they are going to paint the school rock his favorite color: Blue.

A balloon release and vigil are scheduled Tuesday at A.L. Brown High.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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