Durham Teen Killed In Car Crash Remembered

By JOSH KOVNER

Hartford Courant

June 17, 2008

Allyson Palmisano, the 17-year-old junior at Coginchaug Regional High School who died Sunday in a one-car accident, was remembered Monday as a caring, giving student. She was to leave this Sunday for Kentucky to do community work with her church. 'Ally's teachers loved her. She was very popular and a very good student,' said Susan L. Viccaro, superintendent of Region 13. Last year, Palmisano, of 44 Clementel Drive, won an award for excellence in world languages sponsored by the Connecticut Council of Language Teachers. Palmisano was driving a 1995 Toyota Corolla south on Skeet Club Road (Route 157) near Powder Hill Road on Sunday, shortly after 4:30 p.m. She lost control of the car on a sharp curve and her car struck a utility pole, said Trooper Carl Bisson of Troop F in Westbrook. She was alone in the car. It's not clear whether she was wearing a seat belt. The accident summary says 'restraint use unknown.' Sadness cloaked the high school on Monday. Students walked through subdued hallways and took final exams. Graduation is Wednesday night. On Sunday night, 150 grieving students went to the high school at 7 p.m. to talk about the tragedy with teachers, counselors and administrators.

'A lot of kids were pretty distraught,' Viccaro said.

State police asked anyone with information to call Bisson at Troop F, 860-399-2100. Contact Josh Kovner at jkovner@courant.com .

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